Exercise Psychology Vocabulary

Flashcards on Exercise Psychology

Psychology

The mental processes people experience and use in all aspects of their lives; attempts to explain or predict behavior based on the interaction of personal and environmental characteristics.

Exercise science/kinesiology

All aspects of sport, recreation, exercise/fitness, and rehabilitative behavior.

Exercise Psychology

Attempts to explain or predict exercise behavior based on the interaction of personal and environmental characteristics.

Rehabilitation psychology

A field related to exercise psychology that focuses on how exercise can complement disease treatment.

Health psychology

A field related to exercise psychology that addresses the psychological antecedents and consequences of exercise behavior.

Sport psychology

A field related to exercise psychology that focuses on the psychological aspects of sport performance.

Humanistic Model

Using science and personal preference, allowing freedom of choice, listening to the body, focusing on the process with lifestyle activity and fitness outcome varies.

Medical Model

Using science as exercise prescription, dictates exercise dose, listens to experts, follows prescription, outcome focused with sporadic exercise and high fitness outcome.

Physical Activity

Includes all forms of human movement; moderate (MPA) involves a brisk walk (3-4 MPH) at a conversation pace; vigorous (VPA) involves an elevated heart rate and is more purposeful/goal-oriented.

Motivation

Degree of determination, drive, or desire spent in approaching (or avoiding) a behavior; direction and intensity of effort.

Expectancy-Value Approach

Motivation (and behavior) was predicated on the individual’s expected behavioral outcome and the value (importance) the individual placed on that predicted outcome.

Self-Efficacy

The extent to which an individual feels he/she will be successful in performing a desired behavior, given one’s abilities and the unique situation in which one finds oneself.

Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA)

Focuses on predicting single-instance activity and one’s intention to exercise based on attitudes and subjective norms.

Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB)

An extension of the Theory of Reasoned Action that accounts for the degree of personal control over one’s own behavior and potential barriers to exercise.

Self-Determination Theory

People seek challenges to satisfy three basic psychological needs: self-determination/autonomy, competence, and relatedness/social interactions.

Stimulus-Response Theory

A behavior can be learned through repeated pairings with cues or reinforcers; events that can alter the likelihood of a behavior reoccurring include positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, punishment, and extinction.

Behavioral Economics

Integrates stimulus-response theory with research on cognitive psychology and decision making; considers how people allocate time/effort to various options.

Integrative Approaches

pull together concepts from various theories and models to explain exercise behavior, includes the Transtheoretical model and social ecological model

Social Ecological Models

Individuals are responsible for engaging in healthful behaviors, but other influences on health behavior also exist, like physical environment, community, society and government

Social influence

Real or imagined pressure to change behavior, attitudes, or beliefs.

Social support

Perceived comfort, caring, assistance, and information that a person receives from others.

Motivational Interviewing

A counseling technique that provides people with an opportunity to talk about and resolve their feelings so that they can move forward with change.