Sport Psychology

• Identify three of the layers of Hollander's theory of personality structure (3)

  - psychological core

  - typical responses

  - role related behaviour
• Outline two different theories of personality (4)

  - Hollander's theory of personality consists of 3 layers: the psychological core, typical responses and role-related behaviour

  - Social learning theory suggests that we are born as blank canvas and social growth shapes personality through real life experiences
• Describe the three components of an attitude as identified in Wood's Triadic Model (3)

  - cognitive

  --> performers thoughts about an object

  
  

  - affective

  --> performers emotional responses towards an object

  
  

  - behavioural

  --> how a performer acts when faced with an object
• Define cognitive dissonance (Festinger) (1)

  - when two attitude components oppose each other causing emotional discomfort
• Outline two factors that affect arousal when seeking optimal performance (2)

  - type of personality

  - task differences such as gross vs simple
• Define the term state anxiety and give a sporting example (2)

  - state anxiety is when anxiety is experienced in a particular situation

  - for example taking a penalty in football
• List four factors that can lead to psychological stress for an athlete (4)

  - unknown nature of the event

  - perceived hostile crowd

  - expectation of winning

  - fear of failure
• Define anxiety (1)

  - a negative aspect of stress
• Describe what is meant by cognitive anxiety and somatic anxiety. Your answer should include a symptom of each type of anxiety (4)

  - cognitive anxiety is a mental impairment of performance

  - symptom: worrying

  - somatic anxiety is physiological effects

  - symptom: sweating + nausea
• Over arousal, under developed moral reasoning and bracketed morality are examples of causes of aggression. Explain how these three factors cause aggression in sport, providing an example for each (6)

  - Over arousal is heightened psychological arousal that leads to a lack of ability to exert self-control

  - for example, hitting an opponent

  - underdeveloped moral reasoning is aggression that is justified by the performer because they feel it is an acceptable response

  - for example, they do not understand why they should not harm others

  - bracketed morality is an aggression is seen to be acceptable in some situations

  - for example, boxing
• A generally non-aggressive person displays aggressive tendencies when playing competitive sport. Using examples, explain the view expressed by social learning theorists in relation to aggressive behaviour in sport (6)

  - social learning theory is based on the view that our behaviour is related to our experiences

  - these experiences can be from personal experience

  - for example, if we acted more aggressively in a sporting confrontation then we are more likely to get out own way

  - they can be from vicarious modelling

  - for example seeing how a professional performer used intimidation of an official to influence the decision

  - they can also be a result of verbal persuasion from a coach or significant other
• Describe the two performer types given in Achievement Motivation Theory (2)

  - need to achieve (has a need to achieve)

  - need to avoid failure (seeks situation were success is highly probable)
• Describe what is meant by intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. Use an example from sport to support each of your responses (4)

  - intrinsic motivation comes from within based on personal satisfaction

  - for example, completing a marathon

  - extrinsic motivation comes from an external source

  - for example, winning a gold medal
• State the two performer types in Achievement Motivation Theory (2)

  - need to avoid failure

  - need to achieve
• Define the term social facilitation (1)


  - the influence of the presence of others on performance (audience or other performers)
• Using Cottrell's theory of Evaluation Apprehension, assess the effect that 'others' could have on the performance of an under-18 club debutant (8)


  - the presence of other can either facilitate or inhibit an athletes performance

  - dependent on the status or the situation the performer can be aroused to perform better or over-aroused and suffer from apprehension

  - may be affected by the observer who is of high status and can motivate or inhibit

  - the performer has low self esteem or perceived low ability will usually lead to increased apprehension and anxiety

  - if there is a crowd present and they are critical, this can lead to an increased arousal but is more likely to lead to apprehension and anxiety

  - if the event is considered to be important this can lead to increased arousal
• Summarise two causes and two effects of Evaluation Apprehension (4)


  CAUSES

  - status of the observer/pressure of the event

  - intention of the observers to evaluate the performer (trial)

  
  

  EFFECTS

  - apprehension due to the belief that the audience will evaluate the performer (inhibited performance)

  - anxiety causes increased arousal that leads to an improved performance