Sport Psychology 4 2660

• Unconditional reflex


  A stimulus-response sequence in which a stimulus elicits a response without prior learning or conditioning
• Unconditional reflexes


  • In volleyball, going to jump/hit even when the setter is not setting at you to hit the ball
  • When riding a horse, automatically starting to post when the horse starts to trot
• Unconditioned reflex


  A strong sense of fear experienced by Susan, the figure skater, when she realized she was falling
• Conditioned reflex


  A stimulus-response sequence in which a stimulus elicits a response because the stimulus was paired with a different stimulus that elicited that response
• Conditioned reflex


  • Whenever Susan, the figure skater, would approach the position for taking off on her jump, she would have a strong sense of fear
• Other names for respondent conditioning

  Reflexive learning, classical, and Pavlovian
• Respondent conditioning


  1. Pairing a neutral stimulus (NS) with an unconditioned stimulus (US) which elicits an unconditioned response

  2. The NS becomes a conditioned stimulus (CS) that elicits a conditioned response (CR)
• Extinction of conditioned reflex (respondent extinction)

  1. Repeated presentation of a CS by itself

  2. The CS loses its ability to elicit a CR
• Extinction of conditioned reflex

  • A kid is given candy when staying quiet, then the candy is no longer given and they no longer stay quiet
• Overcoming fear of double axel jump (Susan, the figure skater)

  1. Introduction of counterconditioning

  2. Susan would relax and take deep breaths where she usually got nervous

  3. She then did not feel fear when approaching the jump and was able to complete it with a two foot landing
• NS


  Neutral stimulus
• US


  Unconditional stimulus
• UR


  Unconditional response
• CS


  Conditioned stimulus
• CR


  Conditioned response
• Variables influencing development of conditioned reflex

  • Greater number of pairings of CS with US leads to greater ability of CS to elicit CR
  • Stronger conditioning if CS precedes US by just a second, rather than longer time or following US
  • CS acquires greater ability to elicit CR if always paired with given US, than if only occasionally paired
  • Stimulus most consistently associated with US is most likely to become strong CS
  • Respondent conditioning develops more quickly and strongly when CS or US or both are intense, rather than weak
• Child hears loud barking from hidden dog, then dog appears


  This sequence is likely to cause the child to fear the sight of a dog
• Operant conditioning


  A type of learning in which behaviour is modified by consequences
• Pavlovian conditioning


  An automatic response to prior stimuli
• Positive reinforcement


  1. Presentation of a reinforcer immediately after a behaviour

  2. The behaviour is strengthened
• Conditioned reinforcer


  A stimulus that was not originally reinforcing can acquire reinforcing value through appropriate pairings with other reinforcers
• Conditioned reinforcers in sports

  • Volleyball player hitting the ball down with no one able to block or save it
  • Basketball player continuously making 3 pointers with the crowd cheering
• Natural reinforcer


  Reinforcers that immediately follow behaviour in the normal course of everyday living
• Deliberately-programmed reinforcer


  Reinforcers that are deliberately manipulated in order to change behaviour
• Natural and deliberately-programmed reinforcers


  • Having something sweet because of a craving is a natural reinforcer
  • A teacher giving candy when kids stay quiet is a deliberately-programmed reinforcer
• Positive reinforcement in sports


  • A gymnast being allowed to freestyle after landing a landing correctly, illustrating the direct effect of positive reinforcement
• Operant extinction


  A response is no longer followed by a reinforcer, resulting in the response decreasing in frequency
• Differences between continuous and intermittent reinforcement
• Fixed-ratio schedule of reinforcement


  Reinforcement occurs after a fixed number of responses
• Fixed-ratio schedule in sports

  • A volleyball player serving 15 times in a row then taking a break
  • A rider staying in 2-point position for two minutes then taking a break
• Fixed-ratio with limited hold schedule of reinforcement


  Reinforcement occurs if a fixed number of responses occur within a fixed period of time
• Fixed-ratio with limited hold in sports

  • A basketball player asked to do 10 line touches in 1 minute
• Variable-ratio schedule of reinforcement


  The number of responses required to produce reinforcement changes unpredictably from one reinforcer to the next
• Variable-ratio schedule in sports

  • A basketball player making a shot from the half court line, which is unpredictable for beginners
• Fixed-duration schedule of reinforcement


  Requires a response to be practiced for a certain period of time, rather than a certain number of responses
• Fixed-duration schedule in sports

  • A sports player having to do high knees for 3 minutes then getting a break
• Variable interval schedule with limited hold


  Requires one response, but the response must occur at an unpredictable period of time
• Variable interval schedule in sports

  • A coach makes their rider ride with no stirrups until the coach says they can stop, the longer they ride properly the more jumps they can do at the end
• Categories of punishers


  • Physical punishment (activates pain receptors)
  • Reprimands (strong negative verbal stimuli)
  • Timeout (transfer to less reinforcing situation)
  • Response cost (removal of reinforcer)
• Physical punishment in sports

  • A gymnast having to hold a handstand until their arms hurt