individual differences- personalility

what are the 7 individual differences PAMAAAS (SPAAAAM)

1. personality

2. attitdue

3. motivation

4. arousaal

5. anxiety/stress management

6. aggression

7. social facilitation

personality

patterns of thoughts and feelings and the way in which we interact with our environment and other people that make us a unique person.

what is the personality trait approach

• the narrow band approach within the traits approach splits personality into 2 traits:

• type a

• type b

type a

• impatience

• intolerance

• high levels of stress

type b

• relaxed

• tolerant approach

• lower personal stress

advantages of personality trait approach

• Coach may be more aware of a players anxiety levels and therefore able to suggest intervention strategies

• Personality /behaviour can be predicted

• Knowing about personal anxiety may lead the performer to seek help to deal with state anxiety levels during a sports situation e.g. a penalty kick in football

disadvantages of personality trait approach

• Whether the distinction between type A and B personality is helpful when related to sports is not conclusive

• Trait theory may be deemed not accurate as not likely to just be genetic input that determines our personality

• Doesn't account for personality change in different environments- just based on traits/ doesn't account for free will

• Identical twins who are brought up in different environment do not demonstrate the same personality suggesting not just traits that determine personality

4 other traits in the personality trait approach

1. stable

2. unstable

3. extroversion

4. introversion

stable

• personalities that are unchangeable and remain constant and predictable

• e.g. a stable trait for some people might be calmness in most situations, or for others high levels of anxiety in most situations

unstable

• one that is changeable and unpredictable

• e.g. an individual might be emotionally aggressive but the amount of aggression might vary from time to time.

• If an individual shows unstable emotional characteristics, then this is often referred to as neurotic behaviour

introversion

• a personality trait where you don’t seek social situations

• likes peace and quiet but is good at concentrating.

extroversion

• a personality trait where you seek social situations and likes excitement

• lacks concentration

team players personalities

• more anxious and extroverted but can lack sensitivity and imagination associated with induvial sport performers

• this is a disadvantage bc there are too many intervening variable present

• this makes a link between personality type and performance very difficult

how can we explain extroversion and introversion

via the reticular activating system RAS

RAS

• can determine whether a person is inclined to extroversion or introversion

• extroverts= RAS that inhibits or reduces the effects of external sensory stimuli which leads to areas of the brain experiencing low levels of arousal and will be more outgoing to achieve this

extroverts RAS

• inhibits or reduces the effects of external sensory stimuli

• leads to areas of the brain experiencing low levels of arousal

• therefore extroverts seek more external situations to achieve higher levels of internal arousal and will be more outgoing to achieve this

introverts RAS

• have high levels of arousal naturally within their brain

• so tend to avoid external stimulation

• therefore are likely to be shy or avoid social situations

social learning approach

• Suggests someone’s personality changes with the situation and that the environment influence behaviour

• This approach would explain why we are like the people that are significant to us and why twins that have been separated have different personalities

• Shows that our personalities are shaped by those around us and that we are more likely to adopt the personality of role models that we come to contact with

interactionist approach

• Suggests that both the trait theory and social theory have value

• Suggests we are all born with certain personality characteristics but some of these changes be modified by interacting with environment

• It agrees we don’t have certain traits which appear constantly, but on many occasions our traits interact with environmental factors in a given situation and this affects our personality and behaviour

• It explains how personalities change e.g. a sports person being shy and retiring off court in tennis and then during a game being loud and brash

practical examples

•  an athlete who strives for a personal best in the long jump is an example of seeking positive self-regard

• A young swimmer may attend training because she doesn’t want to let down her parents who have a high regard for her success in the sport. This is an example of conditional positive regard

evaluations

Many sports psychologists believe the personality traits have little or no bearing on whether someone will be a good sports person or not