CHAPTER 5: FOUNDATIONS OF SPORT

PSYCHOLOGY

• Definition
• Aims
• Scope
• History
• The use of Psychology in PE
• Psychological Benefits
• Ethics
• Multicultural Issues
 Definition of Sport Psychology

Sport psychology can be defined as the study of

the effect of psychological and emotional factors

on sport and exercise performance and
the effect of sport and exercise involvement on

psychological and emotional factors

 The Aims of Sport Psychology

Sport and exercise psychology focuses on:

Psychological and mental aspects of

participation in sport and exercise

Seeking to understand how psychological

processes influence and are influenced by

participant
 The Scope of Sport Psychology

Sport and exercise psychology encompassing

both theoretical and applied approaches and

reflecting close ties to the discipline of
psychology.
 History of Sport Psychology

Norman Triplett (1897) cited as the first individual to

conduct sport psychology research

Coleman Griffith first established sport psychology

laboratory at the University of Illinois in 1925

Bruce Ogilvie referred as the father of applied

psychology in 1960
Rainer Martens – father of modern sport psychology
 The use of sport psychology in PE

To help athletes develop psychological skills for

performance enhancement
Help athletes to enjoy sport and use it as a vehicle

for improving their quality of life

Psychological Benefits of Physical Activity
Psychological benefits of participating in physical

activity include the following:

Alleviate symptoms associated with mild depression

Reduces state anxiety (feelings of tension,

apprehension, and fear associated with various

situations)
Effective in managing stress as it serve as a buffer

against stress and provide a healthful means of stress

reduction
Psychological benefits of participating in physical

activity include the following:

Contributes to the development of the self (promotes

greater self-efficacy and self-confidence)

Offer a means of affiliation with other human beings

Improves one’s mood. Mood states influence our

outlook on life, emotions, thought processes, and

behaviors
Ethics in Sport Psychology
The practice of sport psychology involves two diverse

components:
Teaching

Clinical in nature

When the sport psychologist is called upon to provide

clinical services such as crisis counseling,

psychotherapy, it is important that the person be
specially trained and licensed
Multicultural Issues that Relate to Gender
 Gender and Feminist Issues in Sport Psychology

 Feminism is a movement to end sexism, sexist exploitation,

and oppression.
 Gill (2001) identifies 4 themes drawn from feminist theory

and sport psychologist scholarship:

Gender is relational rather than categorical

Gender is inextricably linked with race/ethnicity, class and

other social identities

Gender and cultural relations involve power and privilege

Feminism demands action