Explores the application of sports psychology principles. Emphasizes the history and future of sports psychology, stress, anxiety, motivation, mental training, goal setting, and leadership. Also addresses imagery, group dynamics, sport socialization, well-being and self-efficacy. Investigates personality as it relates to athletic competition and competition in the real world.
Goals, Topics, and Objectives
To examine human behavior in the context of athletic pursuits. Students will gain an understanding of the science, theory and practice of sport and exercise. Important topics include: understanding and maintaining a healthy orientation to practice, performance and competition, developing personal growth and motivation through athletic endeavors and pursuing excellence. Students will examine group processes, leadership, coaching, performance enhancement, wellness, psychopathology and race and gender in sports.
- Evolution of Sport Psychology
- Describe the history of sport psychology in North America.
- Describe the current concerns in sport psychology.
- Explain the future of sport psychology.
- Personality and Performance in Sport
- Describe the role of personality in sport performance.
- Explain new directions in sport personality research.
- Explain cognitive-behavioral interventions in sport.
- Anxiety, Arousal, and Performance
- Explain the role of anxiety in sport.
- Describe competitive stress on young athletes.
- Describe the consequences of trait anxiety in children and adolescents.
- Explain mental preparation strategies.
- Explain theoretical and treatment approaches to anxiety reduction.
- Motivation, Arousal, and Performance
- Describe the relationship between extrinsic rewards and intrinsic motivation in sport.
- Explain goal setting as a motivational technique.
- Describe theories of motivation in sport.
- Explain group motivation in sport teams.
- Aggression and Sport
- Compare positive and negative consequences of aggression in sport.
- Explain factors related to the acquisition and exhibition of aggressive sport behavior.
- Explain aggression-performance relationships.
- Group Dynamics in Sport
- Describe audience effects in sport.
- Compare individual and group performance in sport.
- Analyze leadership in sports.
- Analyze cohesion in sport teams.
- Issues in Sport Socialization
- Describe participation motivation in young athletes.
- Explain leadership research in youth sports.
- Compare and construct interactions between gender identity and sport.
- Explain ethics in sports and sportsmanship.
- Exercise and Psychological Well-Being
- Compare and construct motivation and exercise adherence.
- Describe psychological well-being and vigorous physical activity.
- Describe exercise as a therapeutic adjunct.
- Describe qualities of the peak experience in sport.
Assessment and Requirements
The instructor will identify and implement appropriate methods to assess the achievement of the learning objectives for the course. These methods may include objective and essay examinations, as well as out-of-class papers, Internet assignments, audio and/or video conferences, and library projects.
Textbook to be selected by the instructor.