Week 2 Flashcards by Amy baird

Give a brief overview of the history of personality in sport

Significant area of research between 1930-80
Numerous problems - lack of theory, methodological flaws, errors
Research developed outside of sport in the 1990s but only became more fashionable in sport psych research recently

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How does Cervone & pervin 2013 define personality?

Psychological qualities that contribute to an individual’s enduring and distinctive patterns of feeling, thinking and behaving.

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What are the key principles of personality according to Cervone & pervin 2013?

Enduring: consistent across times / situations

Distinction: differentiate between individuals

Contribution: to behaviour allows for collection of empirical data as well as theory building

Feeling, thinking and behaving: takes into account all aspects of a person, not just one particular domain of life

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What are the layers of personality according to McAdams 2013?

Dispositional traits

Characteristic adaptations

Self normative identities

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What is Lewins equation?

B = f(P, E)

B - behaviour
P - personality
E - environment

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There are two important considerations - what is meant by a performance focused theoretic basis?

Why and how might personality affect performance

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There are two important considerations - what is meant by main versus interactive effects?

The interactive effect of a person and their environment on behaviour is complex, hence so to is the relationship between personality and sport performance.

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What are ‘the big five’ (mcCrea and John 1992)

Neuroticism 
Extraversion 
Openness
Agreeableness 
Conscientiousness

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The big five - elite vs recreational athletes

Elite athletes are more extroverted and emotionally stable

International athletes have higher levels of conscientiousness and agreeableness and lower levels of neuroticism than club level athletes.

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The big five - what did conscientiousness relate positively to?

Quality of preparation

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The big five - what did emotional stability positively relate to?

Effective coping during competition

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The big five - what did extroverts benefit from?

Goal setting

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The big five - what did neurotics benefit from?

Emotional control training

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The big five - Athletes with low levels of agreeableness, extroversion, and emotional stability are more prone to what?

Aggressive behaviours

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The big five - athletes with low levels of openness and emotional stability are more prone to what?

Using avoidance coping strategies

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The big five - Athletes with high levels of conscientiousness, extroversion and emotional stability are more prone to what?

Using problem focused coping strategies

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The big five - which athletes have more positive performance statistics?

Adult athletes with high levels of conscientiousness or low levels of neuroticism

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How does Hewitt & Flett 1991 define perfectionism?

A multidimensional construct characterised by the setting of very high personal standards alongside harsh criticism of ones own behaviour

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What are the dimensions of perfectionism?

Perfectionistic striving - having high personal standards and striving for perfection

Perfectionistic concerns - highly critical self evaluation

What is perfectionistic striving associated with?

Greater performance 
Olympic success 
Confidence 
Effective coping 
Self determined motivation

What is perfectionistic striving combined with perfectionistic concerns associated with?

Burnout
The yips
High anxiety
Depression

What is dispositional optimism and hope? (Scheier & Carver, 1985)

A generalised positive expectancy about life

Optimism and sport according to Nicholls 2010

Optimism is positively related to problem focused coping and negatively related to avoidant coping strategies such as resignation.

Define mental toughness

A stable disposition that is associated with an ability to deal with a wide variety of stressors and obstacles, and yet still perform at a high level under pressure.

What does mental toughness predict?

High level performance and is associated with Olympic success Mentally tough performers are high in punishment sensitivity and low in reward sensitivity

Clinical definition of narcissism according to the American psychiatric association

A pervasive pattern of grandiosity, need for admiration and a lack of empathy

Sub clinical definition of narcissism (brown et al 2009)

Associated with a grandiose, yet fragile, self view and feelings of entitlement

Characteristics of a narcissist

``` Self centred Self aggrandising Entitled Dominant Manipulative Excel when opportunity for glory ```

When do narcissist perform well?

In competitive pressurised situations Possibly due to increased effort

What does being a narcissist appear to impact, according Roberts et al 2013?

The effectiveness of psychological skills

What do narcissists prefer?

Coach behaviours that focus on treating athletes as individuals Mastery or performance motivational climates

What is alexithymia?

A trait deficit in emotion regulation

What is alexithymia characterised by?

The absence of words to express one's emotions | Typically viewed as a difficulty in acknowledging emotions and feelings plus an inability to express them to others

What is alexithymia a key antecedent of?

Engagement in risk taking activities

What do risk taking activities provide?

An emotion regulation benefit because they allow the individual to experience, and subsequently control anxiety

What other personal traits must be considered in relation to personality?

``` Goal orientations Trait anxiety Hardiness Competitiveness Proactivity ```

The role of what factors should also be considered in relation to personality?

Genetics Adversity Relationships

What did Goertzel 1962 say about the darker side to personality and sporting success?

"The 'normal man' is not a likely candidate for the hall of fame"

The world's best atheists may have some socially undesirable personality traits, give some examples

``` Obsessional Single minded Narcissistic Self serving Indifferent Malevolent Ruthless / selfish Driven ```

Winning in sport at the highest level isn't normal. According to hardy et al 2011, what do the world's best athletes have?

Idiosyncrasies that make them exceptional, but potentially difficult to relate to and communicate with

What are the practical applications and implications of personality research?

Personality profiling to predict athlete behaviours Support intra and interpersonally Promote awareness of self and others Treat athletes and coaches as individuals Tailor interventions for athletes specific need

How might conflict arise?

Between a sports psychologists desire to enhance sport performance and their ethical obligation to optimise mental health

The big five - athletes have more favourable relationships with their team mates / coach?

Those with high levels of agreeableness or conscientiousness

Layers of personality - what are dispositional traits?

Broad and comparative tendencies or a behavioural signature

Layers of personality - what are characteristic adaptations?

Ones conscious goals and purposes

Layers of personality - what are self normative identities?

Unfolding identities and self stories