Lecture 1: History of Sport Psychology

• Sport Psychology Prior to 1950
  • 1898 First experiment (Norman Triplett)
    • paced bicycle races result in faster times than solo efforts
    • social facilitation: the presence of audience and/or coactors enhances arousal
    • 1898 First Sport Psychology Study
    • 1925 First Laboratory
      • Coleman Griffith at University of Illinois
      • research on psychomotor skills, performance, and personality
      • The Psychology of Coaching; The Psychology of Athletics
  • Sport Psychology After 1950
    • 1967 First Annual Meeting of North American Soc. for the Psych. of Sport and Physical Activity (NASPSPA)
    • Bruce Ogilvie (“father” of Applied Sport Psychology)
      • Problem Athletes and How to Handle Them
      • begins to consult with teams
    • mid-1960s Sport Psychologists clearly split from motor learning specialists
    • 1985 USOC hires first full-time sport psychologist
    • 1986 First applied journal: The Sport Psychologist
  • Sport Psychology at 1984 Olympic Games
    • skiing, archery, shooting, boxing, cycling, fencing, synchroized swimming, track and field, volleyball, weight lifting
    • none credentialed by USOC; none able to provide on-site consultation during actual competition
  • Three Roles-Three Titles
    • Applied Sport Psychologist
      • use sport-specific and general psychological theory and research to increase the psychological well-being, health, and performance of athletic participants
      • no undergraduate programs; Ph.D. required for registration with USOC and AAASP certification
      • two educational options (sport science and traditional psychology)
    • Experimental Sport Psychologist
      • sport psychologist primarily interested in conducting research to further the knowledge and understanding of sport
      • traditional graduate school route as for all subfields of psychology
    • Educational Sport Psychologist
      • Sport psychologists with an understanding of the principles of sport psychology who train athletes and coaches
      • Can become certified through AAASP
      • requires doctoral degree, appropriate training, supervised experience (apprenticeship)
  • USOC Recommendations
    • Clinical (Applied) Sport Psychologist
      • degree in clinical/counseling psych. form APA accredited university
      • meet membership standards of APA
      • licensed by state
      • demonstrated experience as athlete, coach, or consultant
    • Educational Sport Psychologist
      • doctorate in psychology or related field
      • meet membership standards of APA
      • 3 years postdoctoral experience as athlete, coach, or consultant
    • Experimental Sport Psychologist
      • doctorate in psychology or related field
      • APA membership standards
      • evidence of scholarly contributions to field
  • Tasks of the Sport Psychologist
    • % time devoted to various activities
      • Teaching: 36
      • Consultation/training of athletes: 26
      • Research & writing: 26
      • Other: 12
  • Sport and Exercise Psychology Orientations
    • Behavioral Orientation
      Principles of Pavlovian and Operant Conditioning
      example: bonus systems (reinforcement/incentives) for so many homeruns, games won, Reebok Challenge
    • Psychophysiological Orientation
      • study behavior through underlying biological processes
      • example: biofeedback training to train biathletes
    • Cognitive-Behavioral Orientation
      • Behavior is the product of both environment and a person’s interpretation
      • assess motivation (intrinsic/extrinsic), attribution of success/failure, response to stress
      • example: overjustification effect
  • Criteria for an Independent Profession
    • A Critical Number of Full-Time Participants
      • Between 1980 and 1990 the number of sport psychologists worldwide more than doubled (well over 3,000)
      • The number of countries in which sports psychologists can be found rose from 39 to 61 during the same time period
    • Academic Training Programs
      • Directory of Graduate Programs in Applied Sports Psychology lists over 100 separate programs
      • Two options: sport science and psychology
      • Sport Science: health, motor learning, exercise
      • Psychology: counseling, health, social, personality, developmental, learning
    • Professional Organizations
      • Division 47 of American Psychological Association (1987)
      • Association for the Advancement of Applied Sports Psychology (1985)
        • Journal of Applied Sport Psychology
      • North American Society for Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity (1967)
        • Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology
      • International Society of Sport Psychology
        • The Sport Psychologist
    • Professional Standards (AAASP Guidelines)
      • maintain competence
      • maintain professional integrity
      • act responsibly in serving the interests of clients and subjects
      • respect clients’ right to privacy/confidentiality
      • enhance the welfare and well-being of others
      • social responsibility to the community