Personality

• Personality -Patterns of thoughts and feelings what makes us unique
• Personality traits

  • Extroversion
  • Introversion
  • Stability
  • Neuroticism
• Personality traits

  • They're genetic
  • They're stable and enduring
  • They don't change over time
  • They're predictable
  • A person can be extroverted at work and extroverted in sport
• Sensation seeking


  A trait where a person seeks social situations and times of excitement but lacks concentration
• Reticular Activating System (RAS)


  • Reduces effects of sensory stimuli
  • Leads to low levels of arousal in the brain
• Trait of introversion


  A person who does not seek social situations, who prefers peace & quiet but is good at concentrating
• High arousal

  High levels of arousal naturally in the brain from a weak RAS
• Types of personality traits

  • Unchangeable and constant
  • Changeable and unpredictable
• If an individual shows unstable emotional characteristics, they are prone to suffer stress
• Reticular Activating System (RAS)


  • Located in the brain stem
  • Regulates sleep/wake transitions
  • Involved in selective attention processes
  • Can determine if we're inclined to introversion or extroversion
• Narrow Band Approach


  Focusing on very specific areas of personality effects of taking part in sport/fitness programmes
• Personality types


  • Type A
  • Type B
• Type A personality


  • Highly competitive
  • Works fast
  • Strong desire to succeed
  • Likes control
  • Prone to suffer stress
• Type B personality


  • Non-competitive
  • Works more slowly
  • Lacking in desire to succeed
  • Does not enjoy control
  • Less prone to stress
• Personality changes with situation and environment (and behaviour of others)
• Behaviour


  • Learned through the environment and significant others
  • People behave differently in different situations
  • Reactions from others reinforce behaviour
  • Learned through observational learning, modelling, and social reinforcement
• Learning of emotional responses


  Through observation, e.g. abusing a referee
• Combination of trait and social learning approaches - we are born with certain personality characteristics but some can be modified by interacting with the environment
• Behaviour Function of Personality and Environment (BF(PE))

  Explains why people in similar environments behave differently
• Performance can be affected positively or negatively depending on how a person perceives the requirements of the situation
• What is the main idea of the Trait Perspective in personality psychology?

  Personality traits are natural, innate, and genetic behaviors.
• How are personality traits described in the Trait Perspective?

  They are stable and enduring, meaning they are pre-determined at birth.
• What does it mean that behavior is predictable according to the Trait Perspective?

  It means that personality does not change over time and is not affected by the situation.
• In what way might a person's behavior in sports reflect their personality traits?

  A person will display similar behaviors in sports as they do in other situations.
• What are the key trait theories mentioned in the study material?

  • Girdano - Narrow-Band Approach (Type A & Type B Personalities)
  • Eysenck/Cattell - Introvert/Extrovert & Stable/Neurotic
• What does Girdano's Narrow-Band Approach categorize?

  It categorizes personalities into Type A and Type B.
• What are the two dimensions in Eysenck/Cattell's trait theory?

  Introvert/Extrovert and Stable/Neurotic.
• Characteristics of a stable athlete

  • constant behaviour
  • predictable
  • does not experience high stress levels
  • recover from stressful situations quickly
• Characteristics of an extrovert

  • outgoing and seeks social situations
  • Seek excitement/ arousal
  • lack concentration
  • may show leadership characteristics
• Type A characteristics

  • prone to anxiety/stress
  • impatient
  • intolerant
  • likes to be in control
  • competitive
  • works fast
  • strong desire to succeed
  • ambitious
• Type B characteristics

  • relaxed
  • patient
  • tolerant
  • lower personal stress
  • doesn't like to be in control
  • less competitive
  • works at a slower pace
  • lacks desire to succeed
  • unambitious
• Characteristics of an introvert

  • less sociable
  • does not seek excitement
  • likes peace and quiet
  • concentrates
  • aroused more quicky
  • sensitive RAS
• Characteristics of an extrovert

  • sociable
  • outgoing
  • seeks excitement
  • may lack concentration
  • aroused more slowly
  • low sensitivity of RAS
• What is the primary way people learn in social learning theory?

  By observing and copying behavior
• How do we socialize according to social learning theory?

  By adopting norms and values
• What increases the likelihood of continuing a learned behavior?

  Praise or reinforcement from a significant other
• What are individuals who are observed in social learning called?

  Models
• What characteristics make a model significant?

  They are valued, such as peers, parents, or authority figures
• What relevance do models have in social learning?

  Models are often of the same age, sex, or ability as the observer
• According to Bandura's social learning theory, how is behavior learned?

  Through the environment from significant others