Elite sport performance/Introduction/Categories of psychological influence
Introducing sport psychology
What is Sport Psychology?
Sport psychology is the scientific study of the thoughts, feelings and behaviour of people engaged in sport and exercise activities and the application of the knowledge gained. Researchers in the field have two major objectives:
- To understand how psychological factors affect a person's physical performance.
- To understand how participating in physical activity affects a person's psychological development and well-being.
A brief history
Sport Psychology timeline
Coleman Griffith
Coleman Griffith becomes the first American psychologist to specialise in sport behaviour.
America's first sport psychologist
Developing as a science
Scientific development continues with pioneering research by Franklin Henry.
Sport psychology as a recognised discipline
Sport psychology begins to be recognised as a distinct discipline with discipline-specific publications and professional bodies emerging.
A multidisciplinary approach
Sport psychology adopts a multidisciplinary approach that is accepted and respected by the public.
Sport psychology as an applied discipline
Sport psychology evolves, with professional consulting and applied research at its heart.
Sport and exercise psychology is based on scientific principles. Scientific knowledge alone, however, is not enough to guide professional practice. Today sport psychology is distinguished by continued growth worldwide, diverse research activities, and interest in application and consulting.
There are now more career opportunities in sport and exercise psychology than ever before, although relatively few full-time consulting positions are available. There is an increased interest in psychological skills training and applied work, more counselling and clinical training for sport psychologists, a growing emphasis on ethics and competence, increased specialisation, some continuing tension between academic and applied sport psychologists, more qualitative research, and the need to take a global perspective.
