PERSONALITY ( p.121 – 130, Bevis, Murray ) STARTER ACTIVITIES: STARTER ACTIVITIES: In small groups, brainstorm / mind-shower (!) what you think personality is and why it is linked to sport. In small groups, brainstorm / mind-shower (!) what you think personality is and why it is linked to sport. What 3 words would you use to describe yourself? – Write them down. What 3 words would you use to describe yourself? – Write them down. Can you think of 2 situations when you feel your personality differs? Can you think of 2 situations when you feel your personality differs?

PERSONALITY What is Personality? What is Personality? Total sum of an individual’s characteristics which make him/her unique Total sum of an individual’s characteristics which make him/her unique Overall pattern of psychological characteristics that makes each person unique Overall pattern of psychological characteristics that makes each person unique A stable, enduring, unique pattern of traits which determine our behaviour A stable, enduring, unique pattern of traits which determine our behaviour

PERSONALITY AND SPORTING PERFORMANCE Is there a link? Can you describe HOW personality might affect performance? Is there a link? Can you describe HOW personality might affect performance? What characteristics does a performer need to possess to be successful? What characteristics does a performer need to possess to be successful? Positive mental health Positive mental health Positive self perceptions Positive self perceptions Positive/productive cognitive strategies Positive/productive cognitive strategies

3 main theories for Personality Personality can be linked with Sporting Performance Personality can be linked with Sporting Performance TRAIT THEORY TRAIT THEORY SOCIAL LEARNING THEORY SOCIAL LEARNING THEORY INTERACTIONIST THEORY INTERACTIONIST THEORY

How do the theories differ? TRAIT THEORY Personality is innate Personality is innate Stable/enduring/unchanging Stable/enduring/unchanging Enables you to predict behaviour Enables you to predict behaviour Behaviour remains the same in all situations Behaviour remains the same in all situations Eg – a tennis player who is losing always ‘loses the plot’ and smashes their racket etc. Eg – a tennis player who is losing always ‘loses the plot’ and smashes their racket etc.

INTERACTIONIST THEORYINTERACTIONIST THEORY Personality is formed due to a combination of traits and the environment Personality is formed due to a combination of traits and the environment Characteristics/traits differ by the environment/situation Characteristics/traits differ by the environment/situation Enables more stable behaviour in certain situations – UNPREDICTABLE Enables more stable behaviour in certain situations – UNPREDICTABLE Change of environment = Change of behaviour Change of environment = Change of behaviour B = f(PE) (Behaviour is a function of personality and environment) B = f(PE) (Behaviour is a function of personality and environment)

SOCIAL LEARNING THEORY We learn to deal with situations by observing others. We learn to deal with situations by observing others. We then MODEL our behaviour on what we have seen. We then MODEL our behaviour on what we have seen. This is in addition to the idea of learning skills by watching others. This is in addition to the idea of learning skills by watching others. Bandura says that behaviour is determined by the situation. Social approval or disapproval determines our responses since such behaviour is reinforced or penalised by the peer group. Bandura says that behaviour is determined by the situation. Social approval or disapproval determines our responses since such behaviour is reinforced or penalised by the peer group.

Personality and links to Sport As a coach how does knowledge of a person’s personality assist …… As a coach how does knowledge of a person’s personality assist …… Knowledge of personality is important to ensure Optimum performance Knowledge of personality is important to ensure Optimum performance Why should a teacher/coach know what an individual is like in different situations? Why should a teacher/coach know what an individual is like in different situations? Understand how to deal with individual Understand how to deal with individual Know how to get the best out of him/her Know how to get the best out of him/her Develop most effective methods of coping with changing situations Develop most effective methods of coping with changing situations

Personality Characteristics Personality Characteristics Stable: Behaviour is predictable Eg: Golfer who has an even temperament in most situations Neurotic: Behaviour is unpredictable Eg: Football player who tends to fly off the handle if game is not going his/her/teams way Extroversion: Affiliates to other people/Seeks out social situations Eg – Hockey player who likes to socialise after a game Introversion: Avoids social situations Eg – A rugby player who sits quietly after a game and seems very shy

PROFILE OF MOOD STATES (POMS) Athletes behaviour/attitude towards exercise often changes according to their ‘mood state’ Athletes behaviour/attitude towards exercise often changes according to their ‘mood state’ Mood states are temporary/Personality traits are seen as relatively permanent Mood states are temporary/Personality traits are seen as relatively permanent Mood states have been found to differ in successful and less successful athletes Mood states have been found to differ in successful and less successful athletes POMS looks at 6 MOOD STATES: POMS looks at 6 MOOD STATES: Tension/Depression/Anger/Vigour/Fatigue/Confusion Tension/Depression/Anger/Vigour/Fatigue/Confusion

ICEBERG PROFILE

Example of the Iceberg Profile Iceberg Profile: Iceberg Profile: Elite athletes show better mental health Elite athletes show better mental health Elite group show low levels of tension, depression, and confusion but high levels of vigour Elite group show low levels of tension, depression, and confusion but high levels of vigour Iceberg profile shows the peak of the vigour and the fairly flat mood profile of the unsuccessful athlete Iceberg profile shows the peak of the vigour and the fairly flat mood profile of the unsuccessful athlete

Successful performers therefore: Display more positive mood profile Display more positive mood profile Have the ability to internalize – to use congnitve strategies such as: Have the ability to internalize – to use congnitve strategies such as: Mental rehearsal Imagery Positive Self-talk – for coping with anxiety more effectively that unsuccessful performers POMS could be used for selection but more often used in identifying possible problems e.g high levels of stress that needs to be managed. POMS could be used for selection but more often used in identifying possible problems e.g high levels of stress that needs to be managed.

How can we measure Personality? All methods have problems of validity and reliability, so can we actually measure it?? Interviews Interviews Questionnaires Questionnaires Observing behaviour Observing behaviour Really useful for talent-identification programmes e.g trials. Why???? Really useful for talent-identification programmes e.g trials. Why???? Some players may fit better into certain situations. Some players may fit better into certain situations.

Interviews Assess personality through discussions with them Assess personality through discussions with them Questions can be asked directly about sporting performance Questions can be asked directly about sporting performance HOWEVER …. HOWEVER …. Are they of value when trying to assess a person’s sporting ability Are they of value when trying to assess a person’s sporting ability Questions might be designed to obtain specific answers? Questions might be designed to obtain specific answers?

RESEARCH TASK Produce a high quality poster about the following: Produce a high quality poster about the following: Achievement motivation – motives to achieve (Nach) and to avoid failure (Naf), and the characteristics of each. Achievement motivation – motives to achieve (Nach) and to avoid failure (Naf), and the characteristics of each. Use: text books, T’Internet and common sense! Use: text books, T’Internet and common sense!