Personality and it’s effect on sports performance

Personality Definition Structure of personality Personality types Measuring personality Views of personality

“ The sum of the characteristics that make a person unique” Definition “ The sum of the characteristics that make a person unique”

Role related behaviours Different people behave differently in different situations (E.g.) May be more relaxed around friends, become more inward around strangers

Typical responses How you normally react in a certain situation (E.g.) happy to discuss issues with everyone, regardless of the circumstances

Psychological core This is the “real you” Your attitudes, values and beliefs The opinions that you have and how you respond in certain situations will be affected by this.

Introverts Less confident Inward looking Like their own company Shy in a social situation Prefer individual sports

Extroverts Confident Like the company of other people Outgoing in a social situation Prefer team sports Prefer activities with uncertainty

Type A personality Lack patience Competitive drive Rush Multi-task Lack tolerance Angry and hostile

Type B personality Less competitive Laid back Calm Low anxiety Creative

Effects on performance Introverts Drawn to Individual sports E.g. Marathon running Extroverts Team players Favour excitement/stimulation

Measuring personality Eysenck’s personality inventory (EPI) Measures personality traits Believed that personality is based on genetics Extroversion/Introversion Neuroticism/Stability

Measuring personality Profile of mood states (POMS) Rating scale that rates mood states Mood states are not stable, they fluctuate Rates the following: Tension-anxiety, depression-dejection, anger- hostility, fatigue-inertia, vigor-activity, confusion- bewilderment

Observing personality Personality can also be observed Others can watch your behaviour and how you respond in certain situations

Views of personality Trait Situational Interactional

Trait Stable factors – Don’t change Genetically inherited? Shy = shy in sporting environments Outgoing = confident in sporting situations

Situational Behaviour depends upon your environment/situation/surroundi ngs Learn how to behave in different situations E.g. Shy in private, aggressive in the sporting arena Learn actions through modelling the behaviour of others Respond to positive feedback

Interactional Need to consider both: situation and traits Nature Vs. Nurture approach We have traits but we are also influenced by the sporting situation

Nature Vs nurture Where you born with the ability or have you learned the skills/tactics/strategies Nature theory – born with it Nurture – learned the behaviour KEY QUESTION – WHICH THEORY DO YOU BELIEVE IN? CAN YOU GIVE SPORTING EXAMPLES? THIS WILL ADD DEPTH TO YOUR WORK.