Personality, Arousal, Anxiety and Attitudes only

What is personality

personality is the sum total of an individuals characteristics which make them unique it is stable, enduring and unique to each individual

How can personality be used

• Determine the way an individual responds to an environment

• Involves: character, temperament etc.

 

How many theories are there

3

What is theory 1 => the trait perspective

trait = personality you’ve had from birth

traits are stable, enduring and consistent in all situations

Eysenck identified 4 primary personality traits and types. Introvert, extravert, stable and neurotic

What are the limitations of the trait theory

• See traits as more fixed and long lasting than they really are

• Have not been very useful in consistently predicting behaviour => can be unreliable

• Fail to take into account the situation of an individual's behaviour or attitudes

• Does not account for the fact that people adapt their behaviour in response to a particular environmental situation

• The influence that the environment and other people have on the shaping of personality is not considered

What is theory 2 => the social learning theory

It proposes that all behaviour = learned through experiences and the opinions of other people

=> means that is is the function of an environment

Behaviour is learned when it is reinforced => learnt from significant others

What is theory 3 the interactionist theory

proposed by Hollander

there are 3 levels that interact to form the personality concentric ring

1. Role related behaviour = surface personality => in certain situations we may behave quite differently. E.g. as a player we may argue with the referee even if we have committed a foul, but as a student if you broke the rules would never argue with a teacher

2. Typical response = your usual response in most situations => the way in which we usually respond in certain environmental situations. Usually indicates your psychological core e.g.  Stopping play when we hear the referee's whistle

3. Psychological core = The 'real you' => inner most point and is the beliefs and values that remain fairly permanent e.g. the value of fair play in sport

what is level 1 of the interactionist theory/role related behaviour

Role related behaviour = surface personality => in certain situations we may behave quite differently. E.g. as a player we may argue with the referee even if we have committed a foul, but as a student if you broke the rules would never argue with a teacher

What is level 2 of the interactionist theory/ typical response

Typical response = your usual response in most situations => the way in which we usually respond in certain environmental situations. Usually indicates your psychological core e.g.  Stopping play when we hear the referee's whistle

What is level 3 of the interactionist theory/ Psychological core

Psychological core = The 'real you' => inner most point and is the beliefs and values that remain fairly permanent e.g. the value of fair play in sport

What is the interactionist view

combines the trait and social learning perspectives. It proposes that personality is modified and behaviour is formed when genetically- inherited traits are triggered by an environmental circumstance

What is behaviour and give an example

Function of personality X environment

E.g.  A football player may be an introvert after the game but reveals extrovert qualities during the game

What is arousal

an energised state and a readiness to perform it is a state of activation experience by sports performer before and during activity/competition.

 

What are the benefits of drive

More drive you have the more chance of an increased performance due to increased effort

What does the drive theory suggest

• Drive theory suggests that as arousal increases so does performance

• The theory suggest that as arousal increases so does performance

What is the limitation of the drive theory

• However increased drive does not always improve performance

• Our dominant response = the action we are most likely to produce, or habit

• A novice learner = is more likely to make more errors as their arousal increases as their dominant response is not likely to the correct action

• An expert stage learners dominant response is more likely to be the correct one => more likely to see improved performance as arousal increases

What is performance

a function of drive multiplied by habit

What is the inverted U theory and what does it suggest

• This theory suggests that as arousal increases, so does performance => only to an optimal point

• Any further increases in arousal can cause performance to deteriorate

• Under-arousal and over-arousal can be equally bad for performance

• the optimum level can vary depending on experience, personality and the task

What is the catastrophe theory and what does it suggest

• As arousal increases, so does performance until there is a sudden dramatic reduction in performance

• This slump in performance is a combination or high levels of both somatic (physiological) and cognitive (psychological) anxieties

• Somatic anxiety includes muscular tension and increased heart rate

• Includes the loss of concentration and worrying about performance

• The player can regain control by reducing anxieties which will help arousal and performance gradually return to the optimum

• This is possible if the cause of the anxiety is mild and the performer has time to recover

What is the zone of optimal functioning

• suggested by Hanin in 1986 that people respond differently to arousal

• Some performers succeeded when arousal was high and some when it was low

• Each athlete has their own preferred level of arousal

• The athlete doesn't psych up to or over exceed the optimum threshold, they simply within or outside of the zone that is their individual preference

Athletes perform best when they are in the…..

ZONE

• Performer is confident

• Performer is calm

• They feel in control of their actions

• They are full focused

What is the peak flow experience

• When the athlete experiences greatest happiness and self-fulfilment

• Peak flow is an intrinsic experience felt when an athlete has a positive attitude, feels confident and is focused and efficient

What can the peak flow experience be disrupted by

• Poor mental prep

• Failure to reach optimum arousal

• Pressure from the crowd

• Frustration caused by ref. decision

• Injury

• Fatigue

What is anxiety

state of nervousness and worry

What are the 4 types of anxiety in sport

• Trait = personality => genetic and stable

• State = situation dependent

• Cognitive = psychological => the irrational thinking or worries about performance => the performer may believe they do not have the ability to perform the task and therefore experience nervousness which can lead to a loss in concentration

• Somatic = physiological => it is the response of the body. Symptoms include inc. HR, sweating, muscular tension and sickness

What is competitive trait anxiety

 a personality trait when a player feels nervous in most sporting situations --> genetic and stable

what is competitive state anxiety

 a response to a particular sporting situation a temporary rush of anxiety caused by a threatening circumstance e.g. taking a penalty

give an example of competitive state anxiety

An individual with a high trait anxiety is more likely to experience high state anxiety when faced with stressful situation, especially if others are watching or evaluating their performance.

what is cognitive anxiety

psychological => it is the irrational thinking or worries about performance. The performer may believe they do not have the ability to perform the task and therefore experience nervousness which can lead to loss in concentration

what is somatic anxiety

 physiological = has an identical effect on performance as arousal does in the inverted-U theory.

What does this graph show about cognitive and somatic anxiety when it comes to the inverted U theory

Increases in somatic anxiety improves performance up to a point => beyond which performance is impaired => cognitive anxiety has a negative effect on performance as cognitive anxiety increases, performance decreases.

How can you measure anxiety

• Self-report questionnaires

• Observation

• Physiological testing

What are the strengths of questionnaires

• Quick

• Cheap

• Efficient = large numbers that can be assessed quickly 

What are the limitations of questionnaires

• Players might not answer truthfully

• Dependent on mood (answers can be given differently after they win or loose a match)

• Time pressure could cause answers to be rushed => leading to incorrect answers

What are strengths of observations

True to life

what are some limitations to observations

• Subjective (based on opinions)

• Time consuming as prior knowledge of performer required

• Performers can change behaviour if they know they are being watched

What are physiological measures

• HR, inc. sweating, inc. respiration and hormone levels can be measured to assess anxiety

 

What are some strengths of physiological measures

• Results = factual

• Can be measured in both training and competition

• Advanced in technology mean that HR can be measured by electronic devices within clothing and relayed immediately back to the coach 

What are some limitations of physiological measures

• Training is required to use devices

• Costs may deter amateur performers

• Wearing a device can restrict movement => affecting performance

• If a performer is aware they are being measured is can lead to additional stress and false readings

What is attitude

is a mode of behaviour which is thought to be the typical response of an individual

• they are associated with personality and are believed to influence a response or behaviour in a given situation

• can be positive or negative

• can be directed towards an object, person, place or event

A positive or negative attitude towards an object…

influences an individuals behaviour towards it

How are attitudes formed

• Formed with experiences and socialisation

=> positive experience = positive attitude

=> negative experience = negative attitude

what is socialisation how is it learnt

when someone associates with others and picks up their opinions and values

Learnt from => friends, parents and role models

Can also stem from culture

What is the triadic model of attitudes

It consists of the cognitive component, the affect component and the behavioural component

What is the cognitive component

 what you think -> represents your beliefs e.g. a performers belief in their ability to win a game

What is the affective component

your feelings or emotions e.g. enjoyment or dislike

What is the behavioural component

what you do and actions of the performer

What is the cognitive dissonance theory

• Predicts that is a person has 2 different ideas there is emotional conflict or dissonance arises

• E.g. if someone has a negative attitude towards exercise or sport, a coach can apply pressure by changing one attitude components to create dissonance or an uneasy feeling

which 3 components of attitude can be altered by coaches

• Cognitive = coach gives player some new information

• Affective = the coach makes sessions more enjoyable

• Behavioural = using rewards and reinforcements for attending training

What is the persuasive communication theory

The individual has to have all of these elements to change someone's attitude

What are some strategies used by coaches to improve a performers attitude

1. Reward successful elements of a performance

2. Use positive role models

3. Give positive reinforcement for correct behaviour/attitude

4. Negative reinforcement for unacceptable behaviour

5. Ensure training is enjoyable to maintain enjoyment