Introduction to Sport Psychology PDF

Introduction to Sport Psychology: Focus on self-efficacy, concentration ,& the ‘A’ state Dr Brad Wright Ph.D, [email protected] Associate Professor, School of Psychological Science & Public Health, La Trobe University September 2024 latrobe.edu.au...

Introduction to Sport Psychology: Focus on self-efficacy, concentration ,& the ‘A’ state Dr Brad Wright Ph.D, [email protected] Associate Professor, School of Psychological Science & Public Health, La Trobe University September 2024 latrobe.edu.au CRICOS Provider 00115M  Just believe in yourself. Even if you don’t, pretend that you do and, and some point, you will.”—Venus Williams  It's lack of faith that makes people afraid of meeting challenges, and I believed in myself. -Muhammad Ali –pugilist  You have to expect things of yourself before you can do them. -Michael Jordan –hack basketballer  "Boos don't block dunks." -- Kobe Bryant, retired American professional basketball player.  In essence, the game begins before the game begins 2  Self-efficacy is defined as a persons judgement about her or his capability to successfully perform a particular task (Bandura, 1986) 3  Microanaltytic measurement of self efficacy:  Level of self-efficacy: a measure of the total number of tasks that make up a behaviour  Strength of self-efficacy: assesses the certainty an individual has that they will successfully attain each level  Generality of self-efficacy:a measure of the number of domains in which the individuals believe they are capable of success 4  Performance Accomplishment Behaviour Vicarious Patterns Experiences Choice Effort Verbal Persistence Persuasion Efficacy Expectations Physiological States Thought Patterns Emotional Goals States Worry Attributions Imaginal Experiences The relationship between sources of self-efficacy, efficacy expectations, and behaviour and thought patterns Source : Adapted from Feltz, 1988.  Past performance- most important, especially when task is difficult.  Reciprocal determinism-previous experience of performance effects present level of self-efficacy  Success breeds success  I know that I’m never as good or bad as any single performance. I’ve never believed my critics or my worshippers, and I've always been able to leave the game at the arena. -Charles Barkley Basketballer  Learning new skills-  Small steps  Goal is learning  Expert instruction  Skilled model  Support & encouragement 6  Vicarious experience-  watch someone else model behaviour, particularly if similar athlete  If they can do it so can I  Participatory learning 7  Verbal persuasion:  Significant others-positive or negative, individualised approach  Credible  Self-talk 8  Physiological states:  Appraise arousal, fear, pain, fatigue, fitness  Techniques to help:  Progressive muscle relaxation  Bensons relaxation  Energizing strategies 9  Emotional states:  Anger, frustration, anxiety etc. effect performance. Link between anxiety and self- efficacy  What is thought stopping?  Cognitive re-structuring 10  Imaginal experiences:  Use imagery to experience the demand before you do in reality and they wont seem as daunting or unfamiliar  See yourself performing successfully 11  Myths  1/Either you have it or you don’t  2/Only positive feedback can build confidence  3/Success always builds confidence  4/Confidence equals outspoken arrogance  5/Mistakes inevitably destroy confidence 12  Trait vs State anxiety  Q/ What factors are related to A-State?  A/ Personal factors, Situational factors 13  Personal factors  Expectations  cognitive appraisal  coping style  trait anxiety  Perfectionism  Fear of success/failure  Low self-confidence 14  Competition  Pressure  Planning 15  Drive Theory  Inverted –U-Hypothesis  Catastrophe Theory 16 17 18  Focus on what you can control  Think about practice situations  Remember the worst case scenario?  Keep active  Use pre-packaged interventions!  Use cognitive strategies  Develop a mental plan 19  Imagery is perhaps the most widely used of all sport psychology techniques.  Why?  Do you ever rehearse actions?  Testing for imagery -string & bolt, biofeedback  Internal Vs External Imagery 20  There are many theories on why imagery works, at this point, none are conclusive, or more widely accepted than others.  What is known however, is that imagery usage is synonymous with increased performances across a variety of constructs. 21  USES OF IMAGERY Skill learning  Skill learning Skill practice  Skill practice Strategy  Strategy learning learning Preview  Preview  Review Review  Problem Problem solving solving  Building Building confidence confidence  Stress Stress management management  Improve Improve focus/concentration focus/concentration 22  Q/When and how do we use it?  A/ Anywhere, anytime- lets look at a swimming example 23 Strategies for improving concentration are widely used as they serve several functions. Amongst these are: the ability to focus on the activity at hand, to block out distractions, and to avoid negative self talk. 24  Moment to moment techniques- if you are thinking about the past or the future, your performance in the present will suffer- athletes incorporate routines/ and verbal cues to make sure they stay ‘in the moment’ and ‘stay centred’  Chunking techniques- if you are distracted about the task you are set to complete, chunk or divide the task into more manageable units.  Rehearsal techniques 25