contemporary issues in sport and exercise psychology missouri western state university william...
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Contemporary Issues in Sport and Exercise Psychology
Missouri Western State University
William Russell, PhD, Dept. of HPER
What is Sport Psychology?
2 main objectives:1. To understand how
psychological factors affect in individual’s performance
2. To understand how participation in sport and exercise affects one’s psychological development, health, and well-being.
What Sport and Exercise Psychologists Do: Research role Teaching role Consulting role Policy Making / advocating role
Global Sport Psychology Specialties:1. Clinical Sport Psychology
Have training in PSYCHOLOGY to learn about diagnose and treat emotional disorders
Licensed by state boards to treat clinical conditions Have additional training in sports & exercise sciences
2. Educational Sport Psychology: Extensive training in sport sciences – have large background in
psychology Serves as mental coach / mental trainer – works through
individual/group sessions and teaches the development of psychological skills
Sport and Exercise Psychology Orientations:1. Psychophysiological
Orientation: Best way to study behavior
during sport / exercise is by examining physiological processes in the brain; brain-body connections
EX: using biofeedback to train biathletes to shoot between heartbeats; examining changes in serotonin as explanation for psychological benefit of exercise
Sport and Exercise Psychology Orientations:2. Social Psychological
Orientation Assumption is behavior is
determined by interchange between person and their environment
EX: How does leader behavior influence team cohesion; Are people with high SPA more comfortable in same-gender exercise settings?
Sport and Exercise Psychology Orientations:3. Cognitive-Behavioral
Orientation: Emphasis is on athlete’s /
exercisers thoughts and behaviors
EX: Is there a self-fulfilling prophecy linking self-talk and batting slumps?
Main Organizations involved in Sport and Exercise Psychology:
International Society of Sport Psychology (ISSP) www.issponline.org
North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity (NASPSPA) www.naspspa.org
The Sport Psychology Academy (SPA) www.aahperd.org
Association for the Advancement of Applied Sport Psychology (AAASP) www.aaasponline.org
American Psychological Association Div. 47 (APA, Div. 47) www.psyc.unt.edu/apadiv47
American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) www.acsm.org
The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) www.usoc.org
Membership Comparisons of AAASP and NASPSPA:
Interest Areas
Ex. & Sp Psych Motor Learning / Control Motor Development
n = 258 n=266 n=155
38% 39% 23%
Psychologists Sport Science Others:
N=495 N=572 N=40
45% 52% 3%
Applied Sport Psychology: Sport Psychology and It’s Growing Pains: Concerned with extending theory/research to educate coaches,
athletes, and parents regarding goals for facilitating optimal sport involvement and performance,
Usually involves individual/group consulting and counseling Many specific concepts (goal setting, imagery, concentration, relaxation,
imagery) BUT General goal is teaching athletes mental skills necessary to perform consistently
and realize their potential as people and athletes.
Focal Areas of Applied Sport Psychology:
1. Performance enhancement / intervention
2. Social Psychology
3. Health and Exercise
1. Performance Enhancement / Intervention: Focus is on performance
improvements in any any achievement settingachievement setting
Also concerned with effects of interventions on well-being of sport / exercise participants
Examples: Stress Inoculation
Training (SIT) with athletes
Attentional Training effectiveness
Flow experiences in sport
2. Social Psychology Emphasis Uses theory / research to focus on
group processes in sport & exercise settings
Social factors are examined as they relate to athletes, coach, team, and spectators
Examples of special interests: Achievement motivation
(Achievement Goal Theory) Moral development through sport Peer relationships in physical activity
and sport Youth sports (The reverse-
dependency trap) Social Physique Anxiety in Sport and
Exercise Settings (A problem at both ends of the spectrum)
3. Health and Exercise:
Focuses on role of psych. Factors in exercise; as they pertain to resistance to disease development & remediation, coping with stress, and health promotion
Primary interest is link between mental and physical health.
Examples of special interest areas: Problem-focused vs. emotion focused
coping and health Hardiness and disease risk (Control,
Challenge, Commitment) Exercise and Psychoneuroimmunology Psychological benefits of exercise
Major Splits in Recent Years within the Field:
Sport Psychology
Health Psychology
Exercise Psychology
Sport
Psychology
Why the Need for Exercise Psychology?
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Phy
sica
lIn
activi
ty
Smok
ing
Cho
l
Hig
h BP
Prevalence of risk factors for CHD in the general US population for 1980 - 2005
Why the Need for Exercise Psychology?
Behaviors are easier to maintain in environments that are supportive of that behavior- for better ….. Or worse…
Sample Interest Areas within Exercise Psychology: Designing exercise programs to maximize
psych. Benefits Exercise addictions Exercise adoption, maintenance, and
adherence Exercise as a stress management technique Gender / Sex-role influences on exercise Overuse injuries in exercise settings The runners/exercisers’ high Psychotherapeutic influences of exercise for
depression Psychological benefits for specific
populations
The Certification Issue: AAASPRequired Coursework for becoming an AAASP certified consultantEITHER SPORT SCIENCE OR PSYCHOLOGY COURSES
Courses Description
1. Professional ethics 1 course
2. Sport psychology 3 courses in all subdisciplines
3. Research Design, Stats or 1 course in any of these areas
psychological assessment
4. Biological bases of behavior 1 course in comparative psychology; physio
psychology
5. Cognitive Affective bases Course in cognition, motor development or motor learning
6. Social Bases of behavior 1 course in social psychology
The Certification Issue: AAASPRequired Coursework for becoming an AAASP certified consultantPRIMARILY SPORT SCIENCE COURSES:Course Description1. Biomechanical / physiological bases 1 course in kinesio., Ex. Physio,
Biomechanics2. Historical, philosophy, sociology 1 course in this area of sport sci3. Skills, techniques, analysis 1 methods course in sport area
PRIMARILY PSYCH COURSES:1. Psychopathology 1 course in abnormal2. Counseling skills course work to foster basic
counseling skills3. Individual Behavior 1 course in developmental,
personality theory, individual differences
Supervised Consulting Experience:Verification of at least 400 hours of supervised experience in exercise and sport
psychology
Achievement Goal Theory:
3 major factors in determining the motivation levels of children in youth sport settings:
1. Goal Orientation Task-orientation – success is defined as self-referent
improvement Ego-orientation – success is defined by social comparison and
out-doing others2. Motivational Climate
Mastery climate – focus is on learning, effort, cooperative strategies, and skill development
Performance climate – competitive, beating teammates, demonstrating superiority over others
3. Perceived ability High – greater competence Low – less competence
Ego-oriented children seek competence through comparison
Ego orientation may undermine the value attached to fairness and justice in sport settings
Who would you most want to have as a young athlete? Hi task/hi ego? Hi task/low ego? Low task/High ego? Low task/Low ego?