Personality + Mental Toughness C:1.1-1.2

Personality

• individual differences in characteristic patterns of thinking, feeling and behaving

• can be understood as an interaction between genetic traits and the environment

2 personality aspects

State

• a characteristic way of thinking, feeling, and behaving in a given situation at one point in time

Trait

• a way of thinking, feeling, and behaving that are consistent across social situations and differ systematically between individuals

trait based approaches

the individual’s components of personality are relatively stable over time

Personality traits

patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behaviours that are relatively stable over time

Behaviour in terms of personality

determined by the individual and/or environmental factors

five personality traits

• openness to experience

• conscientiousness

• extraversion

• agreeableness

• neuroticism

Openness to experience

individuals who try new things over doing the same thing over and over again

Conscientiousness

individuals who are responsible and organised over someone who is not responsible and is forgetful

Extraversion

• how outgoing or social a person is

• individuals love being around people, making new friends, and is energised with others

Agreeableness

• how friendly and cooperative a person is

• individuals are generally kind, considerate, and likes to help people

Neuroticism

• how someone experiences and handles emotions

• individuals will worry a lot, get upset or anxious, feel stress

4 main personality measurements (LOTS)

L-data: lifetime history

O-data: Observations from knowledgeable others (Parents/ Friends)

T-data: Experimental procedures and standardised tests

S-data: information provided by individuals (Self-report)

Personality + Sports Performance

• Extraversion and conscientiousness have been linked to consistency in exercise progress

• Neuroticism has been negatively related physical activity

Perfectionism

• Setting high standards of performance, striving to be flawless and a tendency to be over critical of yourself

2 Perfectionism Constructs

Adaptive Perfectionism - focus on high standards, and not caring about mistakes or others thoughts of you

Maladaptive Perfectionism - focus on high standards, with concerns over mistakes, and concern of others thoughts of you

Interactionism in personality

• defined as a constant interaction between person and environment for the development of personality

Nature or Nurture vs. Personality

• neither nature or nurture can account for an individuals behaviour and personality

4 Personality Variables

Competencies - our skill and knowledge

Encoding strategies - our particular style and the schemas we use in processing information

Expectancies - what we expect from our own behaviours and our anticipations of our performance levels

Plans - what we intent to do

Mental Toughness

• Attempts to explain how individuals manage challenging and pressurised situations

• Partly determined by inherited characteristics, learning experience and the environment

7 Key attributes of mental toughness

• self - belief

• determination

• resilience

• handling skills

• coping skills

• focus

• persistence

perceived control

belief in their own ability to influence or regulate their own internal states, behaviour and outcomes in a sports context

2 strengths of mental toughness

• cope better than their opponents with the many demands of sports (competitions/training/lifestyle)

• be more consistent and better than their opponents in staying determined, focused, confident, and in control under pressure

Commitment

the ability to carry out a task well, despite problems or obstacles

Challenge

• The extent to which challenges are seen as opportunities

Ex: beating a player who is ranked higher than you in chess

confidence - mental toughness

Mentally tough athletes will have more effective responses to stress and pressure which will build confidence

Development of mental toughness

• done through phycological skills training (PST)

• focus on mindfulness and self-comparison training

Mindfulness training

• increases mental toughness and well-being in athletes through enhancing confidence

• can improve attention and cognitive function

self-compassion training

• increases mental toughness as both help with coping skills in sporting difficulties (stress/focus/emotional regulation)

3 key components of self-compassion training

• kindness

• common humanity

• mindfulness

Psychological skills training (PST)

• Provides athletes with ways to reduce, avoid, or control their state of mind

• common used technique is imagery, which can support self confidence, emotional control, or coping skills

midfulness in sport

• being aware of external threats (opposition/environment)

• can be triggered by internal worries (fear/anxiety)

• Mindfulness is present moment awareness

Mindfulness supporting mental toughness

• stimulates a modified relationship with thoughts, feelings, and emotions, instead of traditional PST which would alter the experience

• enhances attention and emotional regulation and can reduce stress which could be related to mental toughness

Pros and Cons of mental toughness

Pros

• self-belief

• determination

• coping skills

Cons

• less adaptive

• self-criticism

• self-judgement

Self Compassion

• balanced, non-judgemental approach to relating to oneself when experiencing pain, inadequacy, or failure

• can enable an athlete to approach, embrace and more forward positively after setbacks

Measuring mental toughness

• Will usually be a self assessment

EX:

• mental toughness index (MTI)

• sports mental toughness questionnaire (SMTQ)