Chapters 15-16 (LeUnes):Chapters 15-16 (LeUnes):Personality and Psychological Assessment Personality and Psychological Assessment

in Athletesin Athletes

Psychology of SportPsychology of Sport

Oct 12-16, 2009Oct 12-16, 2009Classes #19-21Classes #19-21

Personality TestingPersonality Testing

• Does one of these individuals have a Does one of these individuals have a better “brain type” to become an better “brain type” to become an NFL QB???NFL QB???

He told them to draft He told them to draft Manning…Manning…

• Manning went on to become one of Manning went on to become one of the best QB’s ever while Leaf has the best QB’s ever while Leaf has taken up golftaken up golf

How about Dennis?How about Dennis?

The Science of The Science of PersonalityPersonality• we are:we are:

– different from anyone else different from anyone else ((uniquenessuniqueness))

– remain ourselves across situationsremain ourselves across situations ( (consistencyconsistency))• These differencesThese differences are are measurable measurable

– Likert ScalesLikert Scales– Thurstone ScalesThurstone Scales– Semantic Differential scalesSemantic Differential scales

• Personality research: study of Personality research: study of measurable individual differencesmeasurable individual differences – – but what are they?but what are they?

• Situation-free dispositions Situation-free dispositions (i.e. aggregated across time)(i.e. aggregated across time) vs vs situationally hedged dispositions = situationally hedged dispositions = conditional and interactive conditional and interactive with the situations in which they are expressedwith the situations in which they are expressed (Mischel, 2004)(Mischel, 2004)

Back to Dennis...Back to Dennis...

• Rodman and Keown (1996)Rodman and Keown (1996)– Ex-NBA star Dennis Rodman was Ex-NBA star Dennis Rodman was

always just as bubbly and eccentric on always just as bubbly and eccentric on the basketball court as he has been off the basketball court as he has been off it it

– Seemed to remain himself across Seemed to remain himself across situationssituations

Is it the Person or is it the Is it the Person or is it the Situation?Situation?

• Internal and External influences:Internal and External influences:– InternalInternal

•Inner personalityInner personality– ExternalExternal

•Specific situational factorsSpecific situational factors

• What's more influential insofar as What's more influential insofar as prediction of a person’s behavior is prediction of a person’s behavior is concerned?concerned?

Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)Inventory (MMPI)

• The MMPI is one of the most The MMPI is one of the most frequently used personality tests in frequently used personality tests in mental healthmental health

• The test is used by trained The test is used by trained professionals to assist in identifying professionals to assist in identifying personality structure and personality structure and psychopathologypsychopathology

Raymond Cattell Raymond Cattell (1905-1998)(1905-1998)

• His definition of His definition of personality:personality: – That which a predicts That which a predicts

what a person will do at what a person will do at a certain situationa certain situation

• Started the actual Started the actual measurement of measurement of personalitypersonality

• Developed 16 PFDeveloped 16 PF– The 16 factors are NOT The 16 factors are NOT

orthogonalorthogonal• Orthogonal: a unique Orthogonal: a unique

category (factor) by category (factor) by itselfitself

• Oblique orthogonal: Oblique orthogonal: related with other related with other factors factors

Cattell’s ApproachCattell’s Approach• Measured many different aspects of Measured many different aspects of

personalitypersonality• Identified 16 “source traits” or basic Identified 16 “source traits” or basic

dimensions of personalitydimensions of personality• Based on this model of personality, he Based on this model of personality, he

created “16PF”created “16PF”• He used self-reports, observer ratings, and He used self-reports, observer ratings, and

objective tests to help determine a person’s objective tests to help determine a person’s traitstraits

• Used statistics, formulas, probabilities, etc.Used statistics, formulas, probabilities, etc.• He called this his multivariate approachHe called this his multivariate approach

Personality Personality & Sport& Sport

• Compared to Compared to non-sport playing controlsnon-sport playing controls on on 16PF, 16PF, national level competitorsnational level competitors are are (Williams, (Williams, 1985):1985):– higher emotional stabilityhigher emotional stability– greater mental toughnessgreater mental toughness– more self-assuredmore self-assured– more trustingmore trusting

• Getting into an Olympic squad in wrestling Getting into an Olympic squad in wrestling (Silva et al., 1985) linked to (16PF) sociability, (Silva et al., 1985) linked to (16PF) sociability, boldness, emboldness, emotional otional stability and stability and apprehensionapprehension

Mood States and Mood States and PerformancePerformance

• Morgan & Hammer (1974) - Terry (2000) Morgan & Hammer (1974) - Terry (2000)

better performing athletes display more better performing athletes display more positive mental states:positive mental states:– less anxiousless anxious– less depressedless depressed– less fatiguedless fatigued– less confused less confused – more vigorous (and extroverted)more vigorous (and extroverted)

Mental Mental HHealth ealth PProfilerofile

• Positive Mental Health Profile: Positive Mental Health Profile: (Morgan & Johnson, 1978) found lower (Morgan & Johnson, 1978) found lower levels of psychopathology (MMPI) in levels of psychopathology (MMPI) in more successful University oarsmenmore successful University oarsmen

• However: hardly any replicationHowever: hardly any replication– e.g. Brown, Morgan & Kihlstrom (1989) e.g. Brown, Morgan & Kihlstrom (1989)

found no significant associations between found no significant associations between MMPI profiles of collegiate athletes and MMPI profiles of collegiate athletes and their athletic successtheir athletic success

Big Five FactorsBig Five Factors

• ExtraversionExtraversion – Bold versus timid Bold versus timid – Outgoing versus introverted Outgoing versus introverted – Talkative versus silentTalkative versus silent

• AgreeablenessAgreeableness – Friendliness versus indifference to others Friendliness versus indifference to others – A docile versus hostile nature A docile versus hostile nature – Compliance versus hostile noncomplianceCompliance versus hostile noncompliance

• ConscientiousnessConscientiousness – Responsible versus irresponsibleResponsible versus irresponsible– Hardworking versus lazy Hardworking versus lazy – Cautious versus rashCautious versus rash

Big Five FactorsBig Five Factors

• NeuroticismNeuroticism – Adjustment versus anxiety Adjustment versus anxiety – Level of Emotional stability Level of Emotional stability

– Dependence vs. independenceDependence vs. independence• OpennessOpenness

– Reflection of an inquiring intellect Reflection of an inquiring intellect – Flexibility versus conformity Flexibility versus conformity – Rebelliousness versus SubduednessRebelliousness versus Subduedness

Personality and successPersonality and success

• Piedmont, Hill & Blanco (1999): Piedmont, Hill & Blanco (1999): coach ratings of performance and coach ratings of performance and game stats linked to the Big Five game stats linked to the Big Five profiles of elite soccer players:profiles of elite soccer players:– Neuroticism / emotional stabilityNeuroticism / emotional stability– Conscientiousness / «will to achieve»Conscientiousness / «will to achieve»– acceptance of criticism: «coachability», acceptance of criticism: «coachability»,

in turn linked to higher self-esteemin turn linked to higher self-esteem

Personality and successPersonality and success

• Piedmont, Hill & Blanco (1999)Piedmont, Hill & Blanco (1999)– CCoach ratings of performance and game oach ratings of performance and game

stats linked to the Big Five profiles of stats linked to the Big Five profiles of elite soccer players:elite soccer players:• Neuroticism / emotional stabilityNeuroticism / emotional stability• Conscientiousness / «will to achieve»Conscientiousness / «will to achieve»• AAcceptance of criticism: «coachability», in cceptance of criticism: «coachability», in

turn linked to higher self-esteemturn linked to higher self-esteem

Personality TestingPersonality Testing

• Athletes do differ from non-athletes Athletes do differ from non-athletes (e.g., athletes are usually more (e.g., athletes are usually more confident) confident) – Why?Why?

Team sports vs. Individual Team sports vs. Individual

sports?sports? • Different personalities???Different personalities???

POMSPOMS• A test designed to measure certain A test designed to measure certain

psychological traits. Profile Of Mood States psychological traits. Profile Of Mood States (POMS) is a popular tool among sport (POMS) is a popular tool among sport psychologists who have used it to compare psychologists who have used it to compare the prevailing moods of elite athletes and the prevailing moods of elite athletes and non-athletes. Six mood states are used in non-athletes. Six mood states are used in POMS:POMS:

• • tensiontension• • depressiondepression• • angeranger• • vigorvigor• • fatiguefatigue• • confusion confusion

POMSPOMS• Elite athletes from different Elite athletes from different

sports (including runners, sports (including runners, rowers, and wrestlers) tend rowers, and wrestlers) tend to score below average for to score below average for negative states such as negative states such as tension, depression, tension, depression, fatigue, and confusion; and fatigue, and confusion; and score well above average score well above average on vigoron vigor

• When presented on a When presented on a graph, the POMS profile for graph, the POMS profile for these elite athletes these elite athletes assumes a characteristic assumes a characteristic shape that has been called shape that has been called the ‘iceberg’ profile; the the ‘iceberg’ profile; the better the athlete, the more better the athlete, the more pronounced the profile pronounced the profile

Iceberg ProfileIceberg Profile

• Elite athlete is viewed as mentally Elite athlete is viewed as mentally healthy with all negative moods healthy with all negative moods falling below the population norm falling below the population norm and vigor score falling well above and vigor score falling well above the normthe norm– See next slide See next slide

Iceberg ProfileIceberg Profile• The iceberg profile The iceberg profile

of a successful x-c of a successful x-c skier is formed by skier is formed by vigor being above vigor being above the mean of the the mean of the population and population and tension, depression, tension, depression, anger, fatigue, and anger, fatigue, and confusion being confusion being below the mean of below the mean of the populationthe population

• In contrast, less In contrast, less successful elite successful elite athletes have a flat athletes have a flat profile, scoring at or profile, scoring at or below the 50th below the 50th percentile on all percentile on all psychological factorspsychological factors

Benefits of Understanding Benefits of Understanding the Personality Profile of the Personality Profile of

Athletes Athletes – 1. 1. Helps assess the fit between persons and Helps assess the fit between persons and

sports and even positions on a team sports and even positions on a team – 2. Helps athletes and coaches value their 2. Helps athletes and coaches value their

strengths and become more aware of those strengths and become more aware of those areas in which development may be warranted areas in which development may be warranted

– 3. Helps coaches and athletes in a strained 3. Helps coaches and athletes in a strained relationship analyze the source of the conflict relationship analyze the source of the conflict and build a strategy to reduce it and build a strategy to reduce it

– 4. Can lead to motivated and committed 4. Can lead to motivated and committed behavior behavior

– 5. Useful for the athlete and sports professional 5. Useful for the athlete and sports professional in career and life planning, self-management in career and life planning, self-management (such as stress/time management) and (such as stress/time management) and interpersonal skills areas interpersonal skills areas

– 6. Many applications in team building and 6. Many applications in team building and management trainingmanagement training

Athletic Motivation Athletic Motivation InventoryInventory

• An inventory designed to measure An inventory designed to measure personality traits thought to be related to personality traits thought to be related to athletic abilityathletic ability

• These traits include aggression, These traits include aggression, coachability, conscience development, coachability, conscience development, determination, drive, emotional control, determination, drive, emotional control, leadership, mental toughness, leadership, mental toughness, responsibility, self-confidence, and trustresponsibility, self-confidence, and trust

• Although the inventory is much used, its Although the inventory is much used, its ability to predict athletic success has been ability to predict athletic success has been seriously questionedseriously questioned

TAISTAIS

• Nideffer (1976)– Two dimensions:

•Attentional Width•Attentional Direction

TAISTAIS

• Broad-External• Broad-Internal• Narrow-External• Narrow-Internal

CreditsCredits• http://www.americanboardofsportpsychology.org/Portals/24/http://www.americanboardofsportpsychology.org/Portals/24/

APAsymp04AIDMAN.ppt#273,1,The Role of Personality in Sport: APAsymp04AIDMAN.ppt#273,1,The Role of Personality in Sport: Conceptual and Methodological ChallengesConceptual and Methodological Challenges

• http://btc.montana.edu/olympics/physiology/pp01.htmlhttp://btc.montana.edu/olympics/physiology/pp01.html