Sport Psychology Flashcards, test questions and answers

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What is Sport Psychology?

Sport Psychology is the study of how psychological factors influence and are influenced by participation in sport and physical activity. It looks at motivation, performance, anxiety, stress, attitude, confidence and social interaction in sport. Sport psychologists help athletes to enhance their performance through a variety of techniques designed to target physical, emotional and mental states. One of the primary goals of sport psychology is to increase an athlete’s ability to perform optimally. This can be achieved through a variety of techniques such as goal setting, self-talk, imagery and relaxation exercises. Goal setting helps athletes identify specific objectives that need to be met in order for them to achieve success both on and off the field. Self-talk involves talking positively about oneself before or during a sporting event which can help reduce anxiety levels as well as build confidence in one’s abilities. Imagery is used by athletes to create vivid mental pictures that represent desired outcomes or skills they wish to master; this technique has been shown to increase performance by helping an athlete visualize success before it has been achieved on the field. Finally relaxation exercises such as progressive muscle relaxation or guided visualization have been proven effective for reducing stress levels which can have a positive effect on an athlete’s performance overall. In addition to enhancing athletic performance sport psychology also focuses on improving social interaction between teammates and coaches which can lead to increased team cohesion and morale resulting in better results in competition.