1. Exercise and Sport Psychology
KNR 164

2. What is Exercise & Sport Psychology?
Study of human thought, emotion, and behavior in PA
Two 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.

3. ABC’s of Exercise & Sport Psychology
A = affect (emotion)
How do anxiety or anger influence performance?
B = behavior (actions)
Why are some people so committed to a PA routine and others not?
C = cognition (thoughts)
Why do some athletes choke under pressure?

4. Exercise Psychology
Exercise Psychology: devoted to the study of the psychological aspects of fitness, exercise, health, and wellness
Areas of interest:
Exercise and mental health
What is the relationship between PA and mental health?
Exercise adherence
What behavioral factors are related to exercise adherence?

5. Exercise Psychology Exercise & Mental Health Exercise Adherence
Psychological outcomes of PA, e.g. anxiety and depression
Acute versus chronic exercise
Exercise Adherence
50% of those that start new PA program drop out within first 6 months
Adherence = regular participation 60-80% of time

6. Employment Opportunities for Exercise Psychology
College/University
Teach, work on developing theory & conducting research on psychological benefits of PA
Corporation
Worksite health promotion
Community
Develop fitness & wellness programs for a recreation department
Clinic
Consultant for medical/PT clinic to help injured individuals through psychological aspects of injury rehabilitation

7. Sport Psychology
Sport Psychology: the study of mental factors related to improving competitive sport performance
Areas of interest:
Personality characteristics
Do personality influence athletic performance?
Pre-performance anxiety
What is the relationship between preperformance anxiety and sports performance?
Performance enhancement techniques
Which performance enhancement techniques are more successful?

8. Sport Psychology Personality characteristics Pre-performance anxiety
Conflicting results on the impact of personality on performance early on.
A negative relationship exists b/w psychopathology and performance (Morgan, 1985)
Pre-performance anxiety
Relationship b/w preperformance anxiety and sports performance
More than 30 different anxiety measures

9. Sport Psychology Performance enhancement techniques
Psychological interventions to improve sports performance
Mental Imagery
Internalized mental rehearsal
Goal Setting
Attainment of a specific level of proficiency on a task
Motivation
What success and failure mean to that individual
Intrinsic versus Extrinsic Motivation
Confidence Enhancement
Belief that one will be successful. Based on state and trait properties

10. Sport Psychology Considered a graduate-level field
Some schools offer undergraduate minors
Fully credentialed ‘sport psychologist’ advanced degree in sports psychology required

11. Employment Opportunities for Sports Psychology
College/university
teaching, research, working with collegiate athletic program
Professional sports teams
consulting sport psychologist for individual athletes or teams
United States Olympic Committee national teams
United States military
various motivational and behavioral functions
Clinical psychologist

12. Sport and Exercise Psychology Orientations:
Psychophysiological Orientation:
Best way to study behavior during sport / exercise is by examining physiological processes in the brain; brain-body connections
Examples:
Using biofeedback to train biathletes to shoot between heartbeats
Examining changes in serotonin as explanation for psychological benefit of exercise

13. Sport and Exercise Psychology Orientations:
2. Social Psychological Orientation
Assumption is behavior is determined by interchange between person and their environment
Examples:
How does leader behavior influence team cohesion?
Are people with high “esteem” more comfortable in same-gender exercise settings?

14. Sport and Exercise Psychology Orientations:
Cognitive-Behavioral Orientation:
Emphasis is on athlete’s / exercisers thoughts and behaviors
Examples:
Is there a self-fulfilling prophecy linking self-talk and batting slumps?
What does an exceptional athlete think about when “in the game”
Can game preparation be influenced?

15. Research Methods in Sport and Exercise Psychology
Questionnaires
Psychological inventories: standardized measures of specific forms of thoughts, feelings, or behaviors
Interviews
Structured, systematic to gain in-depth understanding of individuals’ beliefs, experiences or values

16. Research Methods in Sport and Exercise Psychology
Observations
In field observation of behavior to study a phenomena naturally
Physiological Measures
Physical, mental, and emotional responses (biofeedback) including muscle tension and brain waves
e.g. blood pressure and heart rate to assess effects of psychological stressors on individuals