Sport Psychology

Question 1

what is trait theory?

Answer 1

a theory which suggests that innate characteristics produce consistent behaviour.

Question 2

what is the SLT (personality)?

Answer 2

this theory suggests that behaviour is learned from significant others by socialisation.
observe -> identify -> reinforce -> copy

Question 3

what is the interactionalist perspective?

Answer 3

a theory which combines trait and social learning to predict behaviour in a specific situation.

Question 4

what are the two approaches to interactionalist perspective?

Answer 4

Lewin’s formula: B=f(PxE).
Hollander’s model:
1. core.
2. typical responses.
3. role-related behaviour.

Question 5

what is attitude?

Answer 5

a value aimed at an attitude object.

Question 6

what are the three components of the triadic model?

Answer 6

Cognitive: a belief.
Affective: relates to feelings.
Behavioural: actions.

Question 7

what is cognitive dissonance?

Answer 7

new information given to the performer to cause unease and motivate change.

Question 8

define persuasive communication.

Answer 8

an effective communication to promote change.

Question 9

what is arousal?

Answer 9

a level of activation, a degree of readiness to perform.

Question 10

what is the drive theory of arousal?

Answer 10

as arousal increases, so does performance : P=f(DxH).

Question 11

what is dominant response?

Answer 11

the stand-out response that the performer thinks is correct.

Question 12

what is the inverted-U theory?

Answer 12

theory linking arousal and performance by stating that increased arousal improves performance to an optimal point at moderate levels of arousal.

Question 13

what is the catastrophe theory?

Answer 13

theory suggesting that increased arousal improves performance to an optimal point, then there is a dramatic reduction in performance when past the optimal.

Question 14

what is the zone of optimal functioning?

Answer 14

optimal level varies for individual players - optimal zone.

Question 15

what is peak flow?

Answer 15

the ultimate intrinsic experience felt by athletes from a positive mental attitude, with supreme confidence, focus and efficiency.

Question 16

what is anxiety?

Answer 16

a level of nerves and irrational thinking.

Question 17

what is competitive trait anxiety?

Answer 17

a disposition to suffer from nervousness in most sporting situations.

Question 18

what is competitive state anxiety?

Answer 18

a nervous response to specific sporting situations.

Question 19

what is a questionnaire?

Answer 19

a set of questions to measure or asses something (anxiety).
SCAT, CSAI.

Question 20

what is an observation?

Answer 20

gaining a measure of anxiety simply by watching the performer.

Question 21

what is aggression?

Answer 21

intent to harm outside the rules; hostile behaviour.

Question 22

what is assertion?

Answer 22

well-motivated behaviour within the rules.

Question 23

what is the instinct theory?

Answer 23

when aggression is spontaneous and innate.

Question 24

what is catharsis?

Answer 24

cleansing the emotions; using sport as an outlet for aggression.

Question 25

what is the frustration-aggression hypothesis?

Answer 25

this theory suggests that inevitable aggression occurs when goals are blocked and the performer becomes frustrated.

Question 26

what is the aggressive cue hypothesis?

Answer 26

suggests that aggression is caused by a learned trigger.

Question 27

what is the SLT (aggression)?

Answer 27

learning by associating with others and copying behaviour.

Question 28

what is motivation?

Answer 28

a drive to succeed.

Question 29

what is intrinsic motivation?

Answer 29

motivation from within.

Question 30

what is extrinsic motivation?

Answer 30

motivation from an outside source.

Question 31

what is social inhibition?

Answer 31

the negative effect of the presence of others on performance.

Question 32

what is social facilitation?

Answer 32

the positive effects of the presence of others on performance.

Question 33

what is the audience?

Answer 33

those who simply watch the event.

Question 34

what are co-actors?

Answer 34

those who are doing the same task but are not involved in direct competition.

Question 35

what are competitive co-actors?

Answer 35

those who are in direct competition.

Question 36

what are social reinforcers?

Answer 36

those who have a direct influence on the event.

Question 37

what is evaluation apprehension?

Answer 37

the perceived fear of being judged.

Question 38

how to prevent social inhibition?

Answer 38

1. getting the players familiar with a crowd. 2. gradually introducing evaluation. 3. improving focus and concentration.

Question 39

what are Tuckman's 4 stages of group formation?

Answer 39

1. forming. 2. storming. 3. norming. 4. performing.

Question 40

what is cohesion?

Answer 40

the tendency for individuals to work together to achieve their goals, the forces that keep the group members on task.

Question 41

what is co-action?

Answer 41

when others do the task at the same time but separately.

Question 42

what is interaction?

Answer 42

when a group works together to produce results.

Question 43

what is task cohesion?

Answer 43

individuals working together achieve the end result.

Question 44

what is social cohesion?

Answer 44

individuals relating to each other to interact in the group.

Question 45

what is Steiner's model?

Answer 45

Actual productivity = Potential productivity - Losses due to faulty processes.

Question 46

what is social loafing?

Answer 46

individual loss of motivation in a team player due to lack of performance identification when individual efforts are not recognised.

Question 47

what is the Ringelmann effect?

Answer 47

when group performance decreases with group size.

Question 48

what is an outcome goal?

Answer 48

a goal set against the performance of others and based on a result.

Question 49

what is a task-oriented goal?

Answer 49

getting a better performance.

Question 50

what is a performance goal?

Answer 50

when the athlete sets a goal to better their own performance rather than comparing to others.

Question 51

what is a process goal?

Answer 51

based on improving technique.