Expert In Performance

Question 1

What is personality?

Answer 1

The sum of characteristics that make a person unique

Question 2

What are the 4 key principles of personality + explain

Answer 2

1. Enduring - consistent across time and situations
2. Distinction - differentiate between individuals (not everyone is same)
3. Contribution to behaviour allows for collection of empirical data
4. Feeling, thinking + behaving takes into account all aspects of a person (not just one domain)

Question 3

What are the 4 key principles of personality + explain

Answer 3

1. Enduring - consistent across time and situations
2. Distinction - differentiate between individuals (not everyone is same)
3. Contribution to behaviour allows for collection of empirical data
4. Feeling, thinking + behaving takes into account all aspects of a person (not just one domain)

Question 4

What are the layers of personality that need to be considered to understand a whole sportsperson?

Answer 4

1. Dispositional traits - broad, comparative tendencies or behavioural signature
2. Characteristic adaptations - ones conscious goals + purpose
3. Self-narrative identities - unfolding identities + self-stories

Question 5

What must also be taken into account with regards to personality?

Answer 5

Must take into account environment

Lewins Equation:
B = F (P , E)

Behaviour is a function of their personality and environment

Question 6

State the 2 key considerations relating performance and personality

Answer 6

1. Performance-focused theoretical basis - why + how personality affects performance
2. Main versus interactive effects - people are complex, interactive effect between a person and environment on behaviour is complex + so is relationship between performance + performance

Question 7

What is the BIG 5 with regards to personality?

Answer 7

Openness - tendency to seek out new experiences (high = more willing)

Conscientiousness - organisation + goal-directed behaviour (high = hard-working, reliable)

Extraversion - quality of interpersonal interactions (high = assertive + talkative)

Agreeableness - concern for cooperation + social harmony (high = friendly + considerate)

Neuroticism - proneness to emotional instability (high = anxiety)

Question 8

How are elite athletes different from recreational athletes in relation to personality?

Answer 8

They are more emotionally stable and extroverted than recreational level

• higher conscientiousness
• lower neuroticism

Question 9

What is perfectionism?

Answer 9

Multidimensional construct characterised by high personal standards paired with self-criticism

• plays a significant role in performance

Question 10

What are the dimensions of perfectionism?

Answer 10

1. Perfectionistic strivings - high personal standards + self-driven aspirations for excellence
2. Perfectionistic concerns - anxiety surrounding mistakes, fear of negative social evaluation + negative responses to imperfection

Question 11

Describe adaptive vs maladaptive perfectionism

Answer 11

Adaptive strivings = linked to enhanced performance, Olympic success, confidence + effective coping

Maladaptive concerns = associated with negative outcomes (avoidance behaviour) including detrimental conditions like ‘the yips’

Question 12

Describe what hope is

Answer 12

Hope is defined as one’s perceived ability to reach goals, consisting of 2 cognitive processes

• pathways = ability to create plans for achieving goals
• agency = drive to pursue these goals

Question 13

What does optimism refer to?

Answer 13

The broader expectation of positive outcomes rather than focusing solely on self-capabilities

• it is positively associated with problem-focused coping strategies in sports
• negatively associated with avoidance coping strategies

Question 14

What is mental toughness?

Answer 14

Encompasses a stable disposition related to performing well under pressure, despite stressors + challenges

• includes a range of values, attitudes + emotions contributing to successful goal attainment even amid diversity

Question 15

Does mental toughness correlate with performance?

Answer 15

Yes research shows mental toughness predicts high-level performance and is tied to Olympic success

Question 16

What is narcissism?

Answer 16

Characterised by entitlement, lack of empathy, manipulation + being self-centered

• traits exhibit prominence in high-pressure sports events, potentially due to increased effort and preference for individualistic coaching styles

Question 17

What is alexithymia?

Answer 17

Denotes a lack of emotional regulation, characterised by inability to identify and explores emotions = challenges in emotional contexts

• can influence risk-taking behaviours + engagement in high-stress situations

Question 18

Explain the folllowing statement:

The dark side of personality and sporting success

Answer 18

Many top athletes exhibit dark personality traits - driven, obsessive, self-centered

• while these can leads to success, they may also hinder personal relationships + emotional well-being

Question 19

What is motivation?

Answer 19

Gives purpose or direction to behaviour and operates i. Humans at a conscious or unconscious level

Question 20

What are motivational motives divided into?

Answer 20

Physiological (primary) motives - hunger, thirst, sleep

Personal (secondary) motives - affiliation, competition, goals

Question 21

What happens when an individual has no motivation?

Answer 21

• amotivation
• learned helplessness
• disengagement
• burnout (previously highly motivated but lose it)

Question 22

How do athletes succeed in sport with relation to motivation?

Answer 22

Individuals sustain high levels of motivation through a very strong sense of doing an activity for the inherent satisfaction of doing activity itself

• motivation must be maintained throughout a season to perform
• can also be externally motivated - rewards etc

Question 23

List the key theories of motivation

Answer 23

Self Determination Theory
A. Basic Needs Theory
B. Cognitive Evaluation Theory
C. Organismic Integration Theory
D. Causality Orientation Theory

Achievement Goal Theory

Question 24

Describe the Basic Needs Theory of Motivation

Answer 24

There are 3 innate psychological needs that need to be satisfied for enhanced / maintained internal motivation

• competence - feeling of mastery or accomplishment
• autonomy - sense of being in control so that behaviour is self-determined
• relatedness - sense of belonging and security

Question 25

Describe the Cognitive Evaluation Theory of motivation

Answer 25

CET highlights critical roles played by competence + autonomy in supporting intrinsic motivation - rewards undermine intrinsic motivation - if externally motivated over long time - internal motivation subsides

Question 26

Describe the Cognitive Evaluation Theory of motivation

Answer 26

CET highlights critical roles played by competence + autonomy in supporting intrinsic motivation - rewards undermine intrinsic motivation - if externally motivated over long time - internal motivation subsides

Question 27

What does cognitive evaluation theory question?

Answer 27

Questions at what conditions will external rewards negatively impact intrinsic motivation - all about how rewards are perceived - events that affect perceptions of competence + feelings of self-determination will affect intrinsic motivation

Question 28

How can cognitive evaluation theory be applied in elite sport?

Answer 28

Goal setting strategies should be used to confirm elite performers need for self-competence as long as they feel responsible for process being goal achievement - any situation deemed to have negative affect on attainment of goal = detrimental for intrinsic performance

Question 29

Describe the organismic integration theory?

Answer 29

Focuses on various forms of motivation from extrinsic to becoming more internal and autonomous

Question 30

What are the different forms of extrinsic motivation according to organismic integration theory?

Answer 30

Amotivation - lack of intentionality External regulation - do it for rewards Introjected - avoiding external sources of disapproval Identified - for personally held values (learning new skills) Integrated - behaviours that satisfy psychological needs (most internal of external) Intrinsic - for enjoyment + pleasure

Question 31

Describe the causality orientation theory

Answer 31

Individuals possess 3 motivational climates 1. Autonomy orientation - for personal growth, interests 2. Controlled orientation - power structures that determine behaviour 3. Impersonal orientation - focused on performance + anxieties

Question 32

What’s the key thing that can be done to focus on one orientation with regard to causality orientation theory?

Answer 32

Can be ‘primmed’ - by getting individuals in a head space using priming words

Question 33

Describe the achievement goal theory

Answer 33

Idea that competence is central and can be construed in 2 ways 1. Task involvement - mastery focused + involves demonstrating competence through personal improvement 2. Ego involvement - comparatively referenced + involves being superior to others / equal with less effort

Question 34

Link the achievement goal theory to elite sport

Answer 34

Individuals with strong ego orientation + low perceived ability = motivation difficulties Better performance = higher task + ego but employ them in different situations

Question 35

What are attributions + what are they affected by?

Answer 35

Perceived reasons an individual gives for an event - affected by personality + environmental factors

Question 36

What are attributions + what are they affected by?

Answer 36

Perceived reasons an individual gives for an event - affected by personality + environmental factors

Question 37

Describe Weiners Attributional Theory

Answer 37

Locus of causality - internal or external (influences emotions) Locus of stability - stable or unstable (influences expectancy of success) Locus of controllability - in ones control or not (influences motivation)

Question 38

Link the attributional theory to elite sport

Answer 38

Attribute internal, controllable + stable reasons for SUCCESS Attribute external, uncontrollable + unstable reasons for FAILURE - this style has self-serving bias to prevent slipping into learned helplessness

Question 39

What is a key motivation of elite athletes in real world?

Answer 39

Motivation and adversity - trauma seemed to fuel effort + need to excel Phaeton Effect: - individuals who show exceptional personal achievement have experienced loss of parents via death / desertion in childhood Goldman Dilemma: - questioning athletes on if they would take a drug making them unbeatable for next 5 years

Question 40

Explain the psychodynamic approach between adversity and motivation

Answer 40

Early life adversity induces a sense of loss that creates strong unconscious need to avoid such experiences in future - guilt - achievement striving - need for success

Question 41

What is John Henryism?

Answer 41

A high effort strategy of coping with adversity increases risk of ill health - efficacious mental + physical vigour - strong commitment to hard work - Single-minded determination to succeed

Question 42

What does optimal motivation look like?

Answer 42

1. Approach not avoidance 2. Active not passive 3. Internal 4. Positive rather than negative 5. For yourself not for others 6. Self regulated + self-determined

Question 43

What are the 3 kinds of goals?

Answer 43

Outcome - focus on results of something (involve interpersonal comparisons) Performance - specify on end product of performance Process - focus on processes that are important during performance