HKR 2004: CH 1

What is: Sport and Exercise Psychology?

Scientific study of people + their behaviours in sport and exercise activities + the practical application of that knowledge

Sport & Exercise psychology examines the ABC’s of psychology which is:

A: Affect (one’s feelings)

B: Behaviour (one’s actions)

C: Cognitions (one’s thoughts)

The ABC’s happen within D (…) & E (…):

D: Dynamic

E: an Ever-changing environment

The 2 Objectives of S+E Psychology:

1. Understand the effects of psychological factors on physical and motor performance

2. Understand the effects of participation in physical activity on psychological development, health, & well-being

What population does S+E Psychology apply to:

A very BROAD population:

• seniors

• children

• elite athletes

• recreational athletes

• exercisers

• people who are physically and mentally challenged

• coaches, teachers, etc…

Roles of a S+E Psychologist:

Research: Inquiry aimed at advancing knowledge and sharing it through professional meetings and journal articles

Teaching: Teaching university courses in psychology or exercise and sport science

Consulting: Working with athletes of all ages and abilities in the fitness industry, the military, and in sports medicine and physical therapy

• people are complex and sometimes issues cannot be resolved through steps

• sometimes a comprehensive approach is needed

What are the 2 types of Sport Psychology Specialties?

1. Clinical sport psychologists

2. Educational sport psychology specialists

What are Clinical Sport Psychologists?

BOOK DEF: A person who has extensive training in psychology & treats athletes and exercisers with severe emotional damage

• Licensed psychologists

• trained to work with people with serve emotional disorders (ex: depression)

• trained to help athletes with problems like eating disorders & substance abuse

What are Educational Sport Psychology Specialists?

BOOK DEF: mental coaches who educated athletes and exercisers about psychological skills and their development. Educational Sport Psychologists are NOT TRAINED to work with individuals who have severe emotional disorders

• use mental coach approaches (understand psychology of human movement)

• have training in physical education, kinesiology or S+E science

• educate & increase athletes’ and coaches awareness of issues like anxiety management & confidence development

Relationship of knowledge in the sport science and psychology domains to the field of sport and exercise psychology

Difference between Educational & Clinical Sport Psychology

Clinical Sport Psychology: are trained in the area of psychology and licensed by law to treat underlying psychological disorders (ex: depression, ED, …)

Educational Sport Psychology: tend not to be trained in the field of psychology and are not licensed but become the teachers of skill and provide educational info on the area of sport psychology

Leading S+E Psychology Organizations

• Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP)

• American Psychological Association (APA) Division 47—Exercise and Sport Psychology

• European Federation of Sport Psychology (FEPSAC) 

• International Society of Sport and Exercise Psychology (ISSP)

• North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity (NASPSPA)

• Canadian Society of Psychomotor Learning and Sport Psychology (SCSAPPS)

Leading Sport and Exercise Psychology Journals 

• Case Studies in Sport & Exercise Psychology 

• International Journal of Sport Psychology

• International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology

• Journal of Applied Sport Psychology

• Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology 

• Journal of Sport Psychology in Action

• Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology

• Sport, Exercise and Performance Psychology

• Psychology of Sport and Exercise

• The Sport Psychologist

• Sport and Exercise Psychology Review