Psychology of Sport and Performance

Students will investigate psychological and social-psychological theories and current research pertaining to the study of sport and physical activity. Topics covered will include personality, anxiety, arousal, causal attribution, motivation, attention, self-confidence, and exercise psychology. Students will also develop an array of mental training techniques that have been used successfully by athletes and coaches to improve sport performance. How to use each technique as an athlete and teach it as a coach will be the primary objectives. This course takes an educational approach toward performance enhancement, not a clinical one. The mental training techniques include imagery, arousal regulation, somatic and cognitive stress management, concentration and attention control, positive self-talk, and goal setting.