A-Level Sports PsychologyMiss Bowe

Personalityand

Attitude

Introduction to personality theories

Define personality Explain the difference between nature and nurture Describe the different personality theories

Trait Theories Social Learning Theories Interactionist Theories

Last Week …

TASK (5 minutes)

Using the spider diagram on your hand-out

Write down anything you remember from last week

What do we remember?

Last WeekOn Personality

Nature vs Nurture

You should now be able to

Explain the three key theories of personality Trait Theories Social Learning Theories Interactionist Theories

List ways of testing personality

Explain attitude and its three components Discuss how attitude can influence behaviour Give examples of prejudice and stereotyping in sport

This Week …

• the unique characteristics of an individual• how people relate to each other• how people act or react to deal with different situations

Nature vs Nurture

Are we born with our characteristics? Can they be learnt or changed?

Recap …

Definitions

Trait Theory

personality is heredity and is passed on through genetics

Social Learning Theory

personality is learned through environmental influences

Interactionist Theory

personality is a combination of genetic and environmental influences.

Recap … the theories

Type A or Type B Personalities

• Type A personality, means that you are a fast-paced individual who is always on the run.

• More easily stressed, who does not accept failure easily, and expects the most in others.

• Type B personality is exactly the opposite of a Type A.

• More reserved and calm, not easily bothered by small problems in life.

Trait theory … how we cope with stress

The main difference between trait theory and social learning theory is the importance of the environment

Will people act or react differently in different situations?

Social Learning Theory

Interactionists believe

B= f (P,E)

What does this mean?

Behaviour as a function of personality traits and environmental conditions

This can be seen as a combination of the best bits of Trait Theory and Social Learning Theory

Interactionist Personality Theory

Measuring Personality

How do we measure personality?

1. Observations … charlotte

2. Interviews … chris

3. Questionnaires … me

Measuring Personality

QUESTIONNAIRES

• before or after the event• not directly related to performance• rigidly and systematically set out• transient feelings or attitudes may be expressed• able to quantify accurately• would not be influenced by another• can be used to assess specific traits

MOODS

are an important aspect of

personality which may

influence sports performance tension depression anger vigour fatigue confusion

Profile of Mood States (POMS)

Elite sportspeople

show LOW• tension• depression• fatigue• confusion

and HIGH vigour

Unsuccessful sportspeopleshow HIGH

• tension• depression• fatigue• confusion

and LOW vigour

Profile of Mood States (POMS)

Developing a positive attitude is vital for sporting success

Simply having a positive attitude is good for you!

e.g. a positive attitude towards a healthy lifestyle

a negative attitude towards a healthy lifestyle

Attitude

Attitude is like personality …

It is hard to measure directly Includes different perspectives or beliefs

For example an attitude can be

Positive or negative Subjective and evaluative Stable and enduring Developed by experiences Linked to a situation or item

Defining attitude

Attitude ObjectLinked to a situation or itemFocus of an individuals attitude

Can you think of an example?

People, objects, events, ideas

Defining attitude

Trandis (1971)

‘ideas charged with emotion (positive or negative) which automatically

result an action to a particular social situation.’

Cognitive component What a person thinks or believes about an attitude object

e.g. I believe that jogging is good for me and helps me keep fit

Affective component What a person feels about the attitude object, their emotions

e.g. I enjoy keeping fit an healthy, it makes me feel good

Behavioural component How a person acts or intends to act towards the attitude object

e.g. I go jogging three times a week and encourage my friends to

Three Components of Attitude

TASK (10 minutes)

Give examples of how an attitude is formed using the example below from the four categories of attitude objects;

1. A person e.g. Lady Gaga/Wayne Rooney

2. An object e.g. Facebook

3. An event e.g. Giving a Speech/Karaoke

4. An idea e.g. Revision Day

We have a belief … the cognitive component Then an emotion … the affective component Finally action or intent … the behavioural component

How is an attitude formed?

Our general attitude towards something will not be a true determinant of our actual behaviour.

We must be specific in our

1. Thoughts

2. Feelings

3. Actions

If you want to be a professional footballer or represent your country in the next Olympic Games you must be specific.

General vs Specific

Beth Tweddle doesn’t just enjoy gymnastics …

She knows she is an elite Olympic athlete

She remembers what it feels like to win an Olympic medal

She trains like every session is her Olympic performance

Attitude and Sporting Excellence

Lionel Messi doesn’t just enjoy a kick about on the park …

He knows he is the best footballer in the world

He remembers what it is feels like to score an amazing goal.

He lives, breathes and sleeps football to be the best.

Attitude and Sporting Excellence

General attitudes will not help us predict true behaviour

Fishbein and Ajzen (1975) state Specific attitudes must be considered to predict behaviour If the intention is present the behaviour will follow

So to predict, perform or encourage a behaviour we must;

1. Understand its relevance of a specific behaviour

2. Get all the info and facts, or experience it directly

3. Discuss and deal with any negative attitudes immediately

General vs Specific Attitudes

Prejudice and Stereotyping

Prejudice is …

A extreme or strongly held attitude that is resistant to change We can feel this way towards a situation or a person This is known as stereotyping

Stereotypes are rarely accurate with little evidence or fact generalisations, derived from indirect contact preconceived influenced by the media

Think of an example of stereotyping or prejudice in sporte.g. boys are more competitive than girls

TASK (8 minutes)

Fill in your glossary

Chapter 9: Page 130 in your textbook

Try to use your own words or bullet points

Don’t be afraid to ask questions or discuss your answers

Key Terms

You should now be able to

Explain the three key theories of personality Trait Theories Social Learning Theories Interactionist Theories

List ways of testing personality

Explain attitude and its three components Discuss how attitude can influence behaviour Give examples of prejudice and stereotyping in sport

This Week …