A quick revision summary of Class 11 Physical Education Unit 9: Psychology and Sports. Read the full notes for explanations and figures.
1 Psychology and Sports Psychology
Core definitions
PsychologyGreek psyche (soul) + logas (study); today the scientific study of behaviour and cognitive processes
Sports psychology“The study of the psychological basis, processes and effects of sport” (European Federation of Sports Psychology); Kinesiology + Psychology
SportPhysical activity for recreation, health, competition and education
| Point | Fact |
|---|---|
| Change in meaning | Soul (Greek philosophers) → mind (late 19th century) → observable behaviour (J.B. Watson) → behaviour and cognitive processes (after computers) |
| Three aspects | Scientific in nature; study of behaviours; study of cognitive processes (memory, reasoning, intelligence, attention) |
| Key names | Coleman Griffith, 1925, Athletic Research Laboratory, University of Illinois (“Father of Sports Psychology”, North America); APA Div. 47, 1986 |
| Other definitions | APA (2009); R Cox (2007): principles of psychology applied in a sports setting; Richard H. Cox (2012); Weinberg and Gould (2011) |
2 Applications and Importance
| Application | Includes |
|---|---|
| Cognitive and behavioural skills training | Attention control, goal setting, imagery, self-regulation |
| Counselling and clinical interventions | Motivation, burnout, eating disorders, substance abuse, depression, sexual identity, aggression, injury, career transitions |
| Consultation and training | Team building, organisation consultation, parents and families, educating coaches, early identification of difficulties |
- A. Benefits of exercise: cognitive, emotional, social interaction, distraction ability.
- B. Advantages of sport: life skills, developmental aspects, behaviour modifications, cognitive and motor skill acquisition.
- C. Performance enhancement: coping skills, confidence, focus, emotion control, zone of intensity, team cohesion.
- D. Exercise adherence: lifelong commitment; identify potential drop outs.
3 Growth and Development
Four areas: physical (height and weight), mental (thinking and understanding), social (interacting with others), emotional (feelings and attitudes); they interact constantly. Developmental milestones = accomplishments expected within a stage (social expectations).
| Stage | Age | Key milestones |
|---|---|---|
| Infancy | 0-2 | Weight almost triples, height +1/3 in first year; gurgling, cooing; emotions by 6 months; head control to walking |
| Early childhood | 2-6 | Loses baby chubbiness; classifies, imaginative; complete sentences; better coordination |
| Late childhood | 6-11 | Strength; concrete thinking, no abstract thinking; gender identification; speed of body parts |
| Adolescence | 11-20 | Puberty, growth spurts; argumentative, peer group; abstract thinking; rapid motor development |
| Adulthood | 20-40, 40-65, 65+ | Responsible and self-supporting; work and family; decline and retirement |
| Sports model phase | Age | Coaching |
|---|---|---|
| Fun | below 9 | Fun activities, variety, minimal conditioning, stress-free |
| Foundation | 10-12 | Skill refinement, Small Sided Games, no win/lose, positive feedback |
| Formative | 13-15 | Match speed, tactics, long intense hours, more decision making |
| Final | 16-19 | High-intensity match drills, game scenarios, individual roles |
4 Adolescent Problems
WHO: adolescence = 10-19 years, marked by puberty. Early 10-14 (body changes, peer influence), middle 14-17 (appearance, independence, peer pressure, risk behaviour), late 17-19 (identity, own moral guidelines).
Behaviour, emotional, moral, social concerns and career uncertainty combine into behaviour deviations.
| Problem | Management |
|---|---|
| Substance abuse | Cognitive techniques (concern, limits, behaviour policies); behaviour techniques (peers, free time in sports) |
| Eating disorders: anorexia (starvation), bulimia (binge eating) | Diet awareness; promotion of fitness |
| Anti-social behaviour | Catharsis; break the circular effect with positive reinforcement; break the violence cycle early; space to speak |
| Exercise adherence (dropouts) | Constraints: intrapersonal, interpersonal, structural. Support at adoption (facilities, time, self-motivation, social influence, self-efficacy, coping) and maintenance (knowledge, positive attitude, confidence) |
5 Team Cohesion
- Group: two or more persons who interact and influence each other. Team: small number, complementary skills, common purpose, mutually accountable.
- Team cohesion: tendency to stick together and remain united in pursuit of goals. Task cohesion = working together for team goals; social cohesion = liking and satisfaction of being together.
- Group management: goal setting; avoid formation of cliques.
- Determinants: personal (satisfaction, similarity of experience); team (prior success, communication, team goals, importance of goals); leadership (effort to develop cohesion); environmental (size of group).
- Benefits: group (team stability, team efficacy); individual (athletic performance, psychological momentum, mood and satisfaction).
6 Psychological Attributes
- Attention: concentration of mental effort on sensory or mental events. Width: broad (several cues), narrow (one cue). Direction: external (outward), internal (inward).
- Mental toughness: psychological edge to cope better and stay determined, focused, confident and in control under pressure; natural and developed. Factors: thrive through challenge, sport awareness, tough attitude, desire for success.
- Resilience: ability to bounce back from adversity; innate righting mechanism. Types: natural, adaptive, restored (learned).
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