sports 4

• Cattell’s 16 personality factors theory: Eysenck criticised for being reductionist
• Cattell’s 16 personality factors theory: Allport & Odbert found 18000 personality words reduced to 4500 adjectives permanent traits. Categorised into 16 personality factors that on which everyone’s personality can be assessed. 185 multiple choice T/F. 1hr to complete
• Marten’s Schematic view
• Cattell’s 16 personality factors theory: Supporting research by Garland= USA football players categorised 272 USA uni footballer players into different levels of skill and tested them with the 16PF. They found that 4 traits were significantly associated with skill: Tough mindedness, Extrovertism
• Social learning theory
• Cattell’s 16 personality factors
• Cattell’s 16 personality factors theory
• Eysenck’s theory: extroverts v introverts
• Cattell’s 16 personality factors theory: Accepted that someone can have a different personality across different situations. Your personality can change depending on how you feel, mood, week
• Eysenck’s theory


  • Mostly biological
  • Dimension theory
  • Personality test to determine (EPI/EPQ)
  • Introvert-extrovert
  • Neurotic-stable
  • Later added psychotic (aggressive)
  • 75% nature 25% nurture
• Applications of personality in sport

  Using personality to improve sports performance
• Measuring personality according to Eysenck

  1. EPQ-(Eysenck personality questionnaire) was the original, designed to assess psychoticism, extrovertism, neuroticism

  2. EPQ-R (revised version) 106 items answered yes or no in 35 min

  3. Example of extroversion “Are you a talkative person” yes or no
• Eysenck’s theory


  Supporting evidence: Francis (1998) compared Irish female students who participated in uni hockey clubs with a control group of female students with no formal involvement in sport. The hockey players scored significantly higher in extrovertism and psychoticism by the EPQ
• Eysenck’s trait theory
• Eysenck’s theory: neurotic v stable
• Key research on personality and sport

  • Kroll and Crenshaw (1970)
• Eysenck’s theory: People who score high on Psychoticism have high levels of testosterone
• Psychoanalytic theory of personality


  • Unconscious, aggressive, and sexual instincts are major in determining personality
  • 3 parts of personality: ID/EGO/SUPEREGO
  • Aggression from the ID can be channeled into playing aggressive sport
  • Cathartic effect - defense mechanism e.g. displacement
• These traits accounted for high skill level in football
• Cattell’s measuring personality

  • Version 5 of the 16PF questionnaire contains 185 items asking simple questions about daily behavior, preferences, and attitudes
  • Self-report test taking 30-50 minutes to complete
  • Test results provide a personality profile compromising of 16 factors
• An athlete may be confident in a sport setting but shy and withdrawn in a social situation

  Explanation: as a youngster, the athlete imitated successful athletes, experienced success himself, and became confident and outgoing in the sport setting
• Social Learning Theory


  • Personality is built up from social experiences and outcomes of behaviors
  • Learning experiences, rewards, punishments, vicarious reinforcement, attention, retention, reproduction, motivation
• Cattell’s 16 personality factors theory

  • Tough mindedness
  • Extrovertism
  • Group-dependence
  • Emotional stability
• Marten’s Schematic View


  • Three levels: physiological core, typical responses, role-related behavior
  • Physiological core: beliefs, interests, attitude towards work and play
  • Typical responses: usual ways of responding to situations
  • Role-related behavior: determines circumstances, changeable aspect of personality
• Key research: Kroll & Krenshaw (1970) - Brief procedure
• Marten's schematic view and the interactional approach

  Agreement: personality can change due to situations faced in sports and non-sporting environments
• Research by Kroll & Krenshaw (1970)

  • Measures used: 16 PF - form A, 15-item lie scale (Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory)
• Research by Kroll & Krenshaw (1970)


  • Significant differences between groups on personality profiles, 6 comparison groups
• Research by Kroll & Krenshaw (1970)

  • Univariate analysis showed differences between participants in different sports, exception in football and wrestling
• Research by Kroll & Krenshaw (1970)

  • Conclusions: Significant differences in personality profiles of athletes from different sports, 16 PF correctly predicted choice of sport around half the time
• Research by Kroll & Krenshaw (1970)

  • Most distinctive group were gymnasts, while footballers and wrestlers had the most similar profiles
• Research by Kroll & Krenshaw (1970)


  • Research method: Quasi-experiment, IV - Sport, DV - 16 personality traits
• Improving interpersonal relationships

  Using personality tests like NEO-PI-R to identify performers' preferences for interaction and communication with team members
• Improving interpersonal relationships

  Coaches and athletes who are outgoing, focused, and engaged with a task are usually more committed to improving performance in their sports
• Research by Kroll & Krenshaw (1970)

  • Sample: Total of ________ male participants from ________ different sports
• Research by Kroll & Krenshaw (1970)

  • Comparison of 16 traits in American football players, gymnasts, wrestlers, and karateka
• Improving interpersonal relationships

  Emotional support is important and may be related to personality, some personalities cope better with fear of failure
• Research by Kroll & Krenshaw (1970)

  • Procedure: Administered form A of the 16 PF and 15-item lie scale (Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory)
• It is easier to teach and mentor a player who takes heed of advice

  Emotional support is important and maybe related to personality, some personalities cope better with fear of failure. A coach who understands the personnel of their players will help optimize their performance
• Improving interpersonal relationships


  Knowledge of personality scores is useful as a method to improve interpersonal relationships in sport. A coach can identify a particular team member who is having a destructive or constructive influence on the team's performance. For example, low levels of agreeableness and conscientiousness detract from task cohesion and therefore performance. By using personality test data, a coach can intervene with a player to improve their level of responsibility and motivation, enhancing team satisfaction and task cohesion