1

Engaging with Positive

Psychology: Possibilities

for sports coaches and

coach developers

Dr Abbe Brady

Bridget Grenville Cleave

Professor Tony Ghaye

Aim: using selected concepts to illustrate how PP

may be valuable for coaches & coach developers

Introduce Positive Psychology

Café Activity

Applying Positive Psychology

Sharing ideas Q&A

QUIZ - What human characteristic is causally linked with all of

the following?

• Greater progress towards important personal goals (Emmons & McCullough,

2008)

• Employing productive coping strategies (Wood, Joseph & Linley, 2007)

• Having more positive and beneficial social relationships (Bono et al., 2004)

• Better sleep duration and quality (Wood et al.,2009)

• Fewer symptoms of physical dysfunction (Emmons & McCullough, 2003),

• Being less materialistic (Polak & McCullough, 2006)

• Higher levels of positive emotions, vitality, hope, self-esteem, optimism

and life satisfaction (McCullough et al., 2004)

• Predicts psychological well-being above the Big Five facets of personality

(Woods, Joseph & Maltby, 2009)

• Fewer symptoms of depression, anxiety and negative affect (Kashdan

Uswatte & Julian, 2006)

What is ‘Positive Psychology’ (PP)?

An umbrella term - study of positive emotions, positive characteristics and enabling institutions

Research and theory in PP are intended to supplement, not to replace, what is known about human suffering, weakness and disorder.

‘A complete science and a complete practice of psychology should include an understanding of suffering and happiness, as well as their interaction, and validated interventions that both relieve suffering and increase happiness - two separable endeavours’.

(Seligman, Steen, Park and Peterson, 2005:410)

Deficit Abundance Ratio

Negative

emotions

Positive

emotions14:1

Anger Forgiveness 20:1

Fear Courage 28:1

Crime Virtue 13:1

Deficit and Abundance concepts in psychology

publications 1887-2000 (adapted from Myers, 2001)

The purpose of positive psychology

‘to begin to catalyze a change in

the focus of psychology from preoccupation only with repairing the worst things in life to also building positive qualities’

(Seligman & Csikszentmihalyi, 2000; 5)

http://www.estatevaults.com/bol/archives/integrating_mind_body_spirit/

2

+ 10

0

- 10

Conceptual boundaries in the functional location

of clinical psychology and positive psychology

Optimal

functioning

Neutral

function

Severe

dysfunction

Positive

psychology

Clinical

psychology

Aim: Review the prevalence of abundance

and deficit concepts in sport psychology

publications

Abundance concepts

refer to experiences,

qualities or behaviours

that are considered

worthy of increasing,

optimising, maintaining

and/or promoting.

Deficit concepts refer

to experiences,

qualities or behaviours

that are considered

worthy of reducing,

minimising, managing

and/or avoiding.

Concept (as noted in article title

with sport psychology as a

key search term)

Frequency of citation per time period

1980-85 1990-95 2000-05

Abundance

concepts

Confidence 10 14 24

Satisfaction 5 6 19

Flow 3 5 17

Self-esteem 9 8 10

Enjoyment 7 6 5

Well-being 0 3 9

Mental toughness 0 0 8

Fun 0 1 3

Pride 0 0 1

Happiness 1 0 0

Hardiness 0 1 0

Excitement 0 0 0

Deficit

concepts

Anxiety 68 71 66

Stress 36 82 71

Injury 9 24 38

Mood* 3 25 30

Abuse 5 19 25

Aggression 15 7 15

Fear 13 5 8

Eating disorder 0 4 17

Burnout 4 13 7

Depression 7 7 8

Violence 9 8 7

Pain 3 3 9

Table 1. Citation frequency data for deficit and abundance concepts in sport psychology

using the SPORTDiscus, socINDEX, psycARTICLES, and psycINFO databases Figure 3. Total database citations in sport psychology for

abundance and deficit concepts across 3 time periods

Developments in Positive Psychology

New knowledge landscape

Empirical research Theory development

Methodology Funding Publications

Associations Conferences EducationPositive

Psychology

PositiveEmotions

Gratitude

Relationships

Positive Education

Positive Therapy

AppreciativeInquiry

Strengths Savoring

Hope &Optimism

Growth Mindset

Creativity

Positive Health

Flow

Positive Business

Resilience

EmotionalIntelligence

Positive Communities

Self-efficacy

Meaning &Purpose

Motivation & Goals

Mindfulness

Time Perspectives

Autonomy

Psychological Capital

Positive Design

Positive Computing

Positive Ageing

Positive Leadership

Positive Traumatic

Growth

Sport & Exercise

Psychology

Positive Development

Positive Coaching

HumilityPassion

PositivePedagogy

PositiveCoping

Examples of

positive psychology

topics and applications (Brady & Grenville Cleave, in press)

Accomplish-ment

Love

Forgiveness

Kindness

Enjoyment

Excitement

Self-esteem

Confidence

Compassion

Empathy

Spirituality

Touch

Cooperation

Altruism

Awe

3

PositivePsychology

PositiveEmotions

Gratitude

Relationships

Positive Education

Positive Therapy

AppreciativeInquiry

Strengths Savoring

Hope &Optimism

Growth Mindset

Creativity

Positive Health

Flow

Positive Business

Resilience

EmotionalIntelligence

Positive Communities

Self-efficacy

Meaning &Purpose

Motivation & Goals

Mindfulness

Time Perspectives

Autonomy

Psychological Capital

Positive Design

Positive Computing

Positive Ageing

Positive Leadership

Positive Traumatic

Growth

Sport & Exercise

Psychology

Positive Development

Positive Coaching

HumilityPassion

PositivePedagogy

PositiveCoping

Examples of

positive psychology

topics and applications (Brady & Grenville Cleave, in press)

Accomplish-ment

Love

Forgiveness

Kindness

Enjoyment

Excitement

Self-esteem

Confidence

Compassion

Empathy

Spirituality

Touch

Cooperation

Altruism

Awe

Well-beingEudaimonic

SWB PWB

• Life satisfaction

• Positive affect

• Negative affect

• Autonomy

• Environmental

mastery

• Personal growth

• Positive relations

• Purpose in life• Self-acceptance

Hedonic

Coach well-being is a multidimensional,

positive and sustainable state that allows the

coach to thrive and flourish

Social engagement

Performance

Low SWB High SWB

Desirable conditions and SWB Broaden and Build Theory of Positive Emotions

(Fredrickson, 2001)

Sociability & activity

Positive construal of self & others

Prosocial behaviour

Physical health

benefits

Buffers stress & supports

coping

Healthy behaviours

Creativity &

problem-solving

Superior conflict

resolution skills

High PA short & long term

Antecedents via which affective well-being

impacts on performance directly and indirectly

Teri McKeever: Gratitude & Strengths

4

Activities

Character Strengths

Gratitude

Applications

Psychological Capital &

Strengths-based Leadership

Appreciative Reflection & Appreciative

Inquiry

Applications

Psychological Capital &

Strengths-based Leadership

Appreciative Reflection & Appreciative

Inquiry

• Positive psychological capital and strengths-based leadership in NGOs (USA Football)

• Appreciative Inquiry/Reflection British Triathlon & UKCC Level 4 coaches (Rowing & Equestrian)

How could

I use this

information?

Benefits of engaging with PP in coaching / coach development

• Rebalances problem-focus on development

• Supports holistic/human approach

• Relates to positive experiences close to the heart of why people engage in sport, coaching, coach dev.

• Well-being is increasingly recognised as significant for learning, development and performance

• Broadens view and extends vocabulary with which to think about supporting people’s development

5 Ways to Well-Being (NEF, 2008)

In addition to those listed, identify 3 different activities you enjoy and then for each activity tick which of the 5 ways the activity contributes to your well-being

Coaching Coach Development

Session

Walk in Nature

Be Active

Connect (with others)

Take Notice

Keep Learning

Give