A-Level Sports Psychology Miss Bowe Personality and Attitude
May 11, 2015
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 …