HISTORY OF SPORTS PSYCHOLOGY

Era 1: Pre-History (Antiquity–Early 1900s)

➢ The ancient Greeks are said to be among the first to systematically explore the mind–body
connection with athletic performance which is paralleling in the areas of sports medicine
and sport psychology.
➢ By 1894, French physician Philippe Tissie and American psychologist Edward Scripture
had published some of the first studies in the field.
➢ Examining the influence of others on cycling performance, Triplett`s study contributed to
the development of social facilitation theory often studied in contemporary sport and
exercise settings.
➢ A prolific writer, Coubertin wrote numerous articles relevant to topics studied in sport
psychology today, such as the reason children participate in athletics, the importance of
self-regulation, and the role of psychological factors in performance improvement.
➢ Interested in the blend between body, character, and mind, Coubertin`s efforts garnered
publicity around the critical role of psychology in sporting activity and continued to
influence the field`s development well into the 1940s.
➢ The contributions of this era involved several noteworthy psychologists, physical
educators, and physicians whose work demonstrated interest in what is now referred to as
the field of sport psychology.

Era 2: The Development of Sport Psychology as a Specialty (1920s–1930s)

➢ In the 1920s and 30s, professionals continued to show interest in the psychological aspects
of sport through periodic writing, research, and exploration. However, it is also in this era
that individuals from around the world began to specialize in the area by developing more
systematic lines of research, presentations, and publications that marked a more sustained
interest in the psychological aspects of sport.
➢ Around the same time, Coleman Griffith was directing the Research in Athletics
Laboratory at the University of Illinois.
➢ Griffith, the father of North American sport psychology, published approximately 25
studies on topics ranging from motor learning to personality and character.
 ➢ Griffith`s laboratory closed during the Great Depression of the 1930s, but in 1938, he was
hired by the Chicago Cubs to assist in improving the team`s athletic performance.
➢ Interestingly, with the exception of some Russian scholars whose work continued through
the 1960s, the research findings of these early pioneers had little direct influence on the
scientific advancement of the field.

Era 3: Preparation for the Discipline (1940s–1960s)

➢ Scholars who trained future generations of students and professionals set the stage for the
development of sport psychology as an academic discipline.
➢ While much of Henry`s work focused on what would now be considered motor learning
and control, some of his students examined social psychology topics such as athlete
personality and the arousal–performance relationship.
➢ On the applied front, the work of David Tracy is noteworthy as he consulted with semipro
baseball players that garnered a great deal of publicity for the practice of sport psychology.
➢ The work of female pioneer Dorothy Hazeltine Yates is also noteworthy.
➢ Best known for her consulting with university boxers, Yates emphasized the use of
positive affirmations and relaxation to enhance performance and also taught a
psychology course for athletes and aviators.

Era 4: Establishment of Academic Sport Psychology (Late 1960s–1970s)

➢ Serving as a model, ISSP inspired the development of several other professional

organizations of sport psychology across the globe, including the North American Society
for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity in 1966, the British Society of Sports
Psychology in 1967, the French Society of Sport Psychology in 1967, the Canadian Society
for Psychomotor Learning and Sport Psychology in 1969, etc.,
➢ The European Federation of Sport Psychology (FEPSAC) was founded in 1969 with
female pioneer Ema Geron of Bulgaria as its first president.

Era 5: Bridging Science and Practice in Sport Psychology (Late 1970s–1990s)

➢ This era was characterized by increasing interest in the field with scientists devoting
their entire careers to the field, and a growing number of practitioners working directly
with athletes and coaches.
 ➢ For example, the Japanese Society of Sport Psychology was developed in 1973 followed
by the Korean Society of Sport Psychology in the 1980s.
➢ Following the dissolution of other related organizations, the British Association of Sport
and Exercise Sciences was developed in 1984 with The Sport and Exercise Scientist
becoming its official publication.
➢ Shortly thereafter, the Australian Psychological Association was developed with sport and
exercise psychology as a specialization in 1988, followed by the creation of the Asian
South Pacific Association of Sport Psychology in 1989.

Era 6: Contemporary Sport and Exercise Psychology (2000–Present)

➢ A large number of universities now offer specializations at the graduate level with
hundreds of research studies being conducted every year.
➢ Reflecting a shift in the field’s focus toward the inclusion of both sport and exercise
contexts, the International Journal of Sport Psychology changed its name to the
International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology (IJSEP) in 2002.
➢ As sport psychology becomes increasingly popular through media outlets and social
networking, Olympic and professional athletes continue to work with sport psychology
specialists, as do a number of developing and recreational athletes.
➢ With the growth of both the science and practice of sport psychology, a number of major
changes are occurring in the field today.
➢ For example, fueled by rising obesity rates and a decrease in physical activity in many
Western countries, there has been an explosion of interest in health and exercise-related
research in the last decade.
➢ Tension between researchers and practitioners of sport psychology continues, which has
led various professional organizations to purposefully attempt to bridge the gap.

Although sport psychology emerged out of other fields, the field certainly has a longer and deeper
history than is often given. Recent efforts have uncovered the contributions of those interested in
the psychological aspects of sport long before Coleman Griffith, and revealed a history marked by
diverse and global influences that had gone unrecognized. Sport psychology is a global
phenomenon with a strong research and practice component, paralleling the development of other
established fields such as psychology and sport.
21SUPS20, HARANI M