T1 Introduction To Psychology and Sport Psychology

SPS431
AN OVERVIEW OF SPORTS PSYCHOLOGY
• Sports psychology is the study of how psychology influences sports, athletic performance,
exercise, and physical activity. Some sports psychologists work with professional athletes
and coaches to improve performance and increase motivation. Other professionals utilize
exercise and sports to enhance people’s lives and well-being throughout the entire lifespan.
• Professional sports psychologists often help athletes cope with the intense pressure that
comes from competition and overcome problems with focus and motivation. They also work
with athletes to improve performance and recover from injuries. But sports psychologists do
not just work with elite and professional athletes. They also help regular people learn how to
enjoy sports and learn to stick to an exercise program.
Definition
Involving the scientific study of the behavioral (action), affective (emotion),

and cognitive (thought) reactions to sport behaviour and sport settings by
sport-participants and fans.
- Wann (1997)
Study of the psychological and mental factors that influence and influenced
by participation and performance in sport, exercise and physical activity, and
the application of knowledge gained through this study to everyday settings.
-
Association for the Advancement of Applied Sport Psychology (AAASP)
“The science of psychology applied to sport”.
- Singer (1978)
Sports psychology is the study of the interaction between a
person’s psychology and their participation in sport.
Scientific study of behavior, affective, and cognitive reactions
to sports settings for both participants and fans.
Definition – emphasizes on :
• Importance of 3 components of behaviour, affective and cognitive in
sport.
• Application of sport psychology to deal with sport-related problems.
Origin of Psychology (Greek derivation)

• Psyche means “mind or spirit”
• Logos means “sayings or speaking of”
• Literally means “speaking of the mind”
Objectives of 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.
Importance of sport psychology in sports
In professional or competitive sport, this study is important because:

• A person’s psychology or state of mind can have a significant effect upon
their sporting performance.
• The selection of competitors for elite sport is influenced by an
assessment of their individual psychology, as well as other factors such as
recent performance and fitness.
• Competition is tight, athletes are physically fit, and the margin for victory
is slim.
• Managers, coaches and players are realizing that to get ahead they need
an added resource, and that resource is a trained mind.
Role of sport
psychology
Research Teaching Consulting

Individuals or teams
Advance knowledge within the Teaching university –Develop psychological skills to
field courses in either enhance performance and
- Running program and anxiety psychology or training.
reduction U.S. Olympic Committee
Share findings with colleagues
exercise and sport
science Major universities to small
and participants in the field. colleges
- Allows for advances, Coaching clinics and workshops
discussion,
and debate at professional
meetings and in journals. Back to
school
Influence of Sport Psychology
Counseling Strategies
- in areas that affect the
- enhance performance
athlete
Back to
school
Influence of Sport Psychology
• Improve athletes performance
• Recognize and overcome the pressures associated with
sports competition
• Acquire psychological skills to deal with athlete’s injuries
• Deal with problems of choking during competition
• Improve the level of cohesion within team to improve
performance
• Develop self-confidence for competitions
• Stay focused during competitions
Back to
school
Activities of Sport Psychology
Applied activities
• Consulting activity
• Provide skills training for athletes and coaches in certain areas.
(e.g: reduce stress, improve mental health)
• Through specific routines – D.M.E
• DIAGNOSE : nature of problem affecting performance
• METHODS : develop methods to help improve performance
• EVALUATION : problem solved or not. If not, develop new techniques
• Clinical sport psychologist activity

• Trained in techniques to allow psychologist to diagnose and
treat athletes with personality and emotional problems.
Applied activities
• Educational sport psychological activity
• Trained in sport and exercise psychology, physical education,
kinesiology and human movement and how they influence athletes’
behaviour and performance.
• Helps to deal with sport-related problem :
• Arousal control
• Concentration
• Goal setting
• Injury rehabilitation
• Mental preparation
• Stress and stress management
• Development of self-confidence
• Improvement of communication skills among athletes
Academic activities
• Teaching
• Teaching both sports and traditional psychological courses at
graduate and undergraduate levels.
• Conduct training programmes for athletes and coaches.
• Sport-related courses
• Traditional psychology courses
• Conduct of training programmes
• Research
• Using research to increase, change and modify knowledge,
theory and practice in sport psychology.
• Includes both quantitative and qualitative research methods
• Research findings through journals and conferences.
Ethics in Sport Psychology
• Competence. Maintain highest standards in one’s work and recognize limits
of expertise.
• Integrity. Clarify roles and do not falsely advertise.
• Professional and scientific responsibility. Always place interests of clients

first.
• Respect for people’s rights and dignity. Respect such fundamental rights
as privacy and confidentiality among athletes or exercisers.
• Concern for the welfare of others. Always contribute to the welfare of
those with whom you work.
• Social responsibility. Contribute to knowledge and human welfare while

always protecting participants’ interests.
Ethics in Sport Psychology
Professional Standards (AAASP Guidelines)
• maintain competence
• maintain professional integrity
• act responsibly in serving the interests of clients and subjects
• respect clients right to privacy/confidentiality
• enhance the welfare and well-being of others
• social responsibility to the community
History & Development of Sport
Norman Triplett (1897) Psychology
• Conducted first experiment in sport psychology.
• Social facilitation/audience effects.
• Cyclists rode with competitors recorded faster time than riding alone, due to
release of energy and motivation to increase their effort.
Coleman Roberts Griffith (1925)

• Father of ‘American’ sport psychology
• Established the first sport psychology laboratory at the University of Illinois
(1925)
• Worked with Chicago Cubs – to improve hitting
Franklin M. Henry (1938)

• Father of Motor Skills/Behaviour
• Established first graduate program at the University of California,
Berkeley
• Conducted research in acquisition of motor skills and on the
influence of psychology in sports.
History & Development of Sport Psychology
Sport Psychology After 1950

• 1966 - Formation of North American Soc. for the Psych. of Sport and
Physical Activity (NASPSPA)
• 1967 - First Annual Meeting of NASPSPA

• Bruce Ogilvie (Father of Applied Sport Psychology)
• Problem Athletes and How to Handle Them (book)
• begins to consult with athletes and teams
• 1978 - United States Olympic Committee (USOC) hired first ever sport
psychologist as its expert adviser.
• 1986 - First applied journal: The Sport Psychologist
Career in Psychology
Work as …….. Counsellors? Therapists? Teachers?
A psychologist – a person who has completed a graduate education in

psychology, and has been awarded a doctorate (Ph.D.) degree in psychology.
A clinical psychologist – has a Ph.D. degree in clinical psychology, with some

time spent under a supervisor to acquire the skills in diagnosing and treating a wide
spectrum of abnormal behaviours; but cannot examine the underlying physical or
neurological causes of the abnormal behaviours and are not allowed to prescribe
drugs to deal with abnormal behaviours.
A psychiatrist – is a medical doctor who has spent some time to be

trained as a clinical psychologist. The training involves the acquisition of
skills such as, diagnosing and treating abnormal behaviours. A psychiatrist
can prescribe drugs as part of the treatment regime to deal with
abnormal behaviour.
Areas in Sport Psychology
1. Clinical Sport Psychologists are trained to deal with the

various emotional problems and personality disorders
experienced by athletes (e.g. depression and eating
disorders).
2. Educational Sport Psychologists are individuals with an
understanding of the principles of sport psychology
who attempt to transmit this information to athletes
and coaches. They attempt to educate interested
parties on the fundamental of sport psychology.
3. Social Psychology include leadership theory and styles, the

psychological aspects of effective coaching, understanding
the factors that influence group cohesion and group
dynamics, effects of audience characteristics on athletic
performance (psychosocial and behavioral factors also
influence sport performance).
4. Personality Psychology not only rely on the athlete but also
the roles of growth, development, coaching, training and
motivation.
5. Cognitive Psychology is the technical term of thinking. It

studies the ways in which the timing and content of the
athlete’s thoughts and emotions influence performance
quality and outcome. Intrinsic and extrinsic motivation
explains performance success and failure among the
athletes.
6. Biological Psychology is defined as the inference of
psychological processes, emotional states and
performance outcomes. It studies the mechanisms of the
muscle and the nervous system that are associated with
performance quality.

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SPS431

AN OVERVIEW OF SPORTS PSYCHOLOGY

Involving the scientific study of the behavioral (action), affective (emotion),

Origin of Psychology (Greek derivation)

1. To understand how psychological factors

2. To understand how participation in

In professional or competitive sport, this study is important because:

Research Teaching Consulting

• Clinical sport psychologist activity

• Professional and scientific responsibility. Always place interests of clients

• Social responsibility. Contribute to knowledge and human welfare while

Coleman Roberts Griffith (1925)

Franklin M. Henry (1938)

Sport Psychology After 1950

• 1967 - First Annual Meeting of NASPSPA

A psychologist – a person who has completed a graduate education in

A clinical psychologist – has a Ph.D. degree in clinical psychology, with some

A psychiatrist – is a medical doctor who has spent some time to be

1. Clinical Sport Psychologists are trained to deal with the

3. Social Psychology include leadership theory and styles, the

5. Cognitive Psychology is the technical term of thinking. It

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