ESS3808Sport Psychology

Martin I. JonesBSc MSc Phd PGCHE CPsychol CSci AFBPsS SFHEA

Resilience

Resilience—the capacity to cope with stress and catastrophe—is the hottest new topic in psychology, medicine and social sciences . . . Resilience is a critical skill. In a stressful, fast-changing world it can even help inoculate against mental illness while boosting achievement levels and productivity

(Hoggard, 2009, p. 35).

“Dynamic process encompassing positive adaptation within the context of significant adversity”

(Luthar, Cicchetti, & Becker, 2000, p. 543)

“The positive role of individual differences in people’s response to stress and adversity”

(Rutter, 1987, p. 316).

Adversityand

Positive adaptation

Are resilient people in the minority?

Are they special?

Majority of individuals exposed to potentially traumatic events do not exhibit chronic symptom profiles and that many show the type of healthy functioning associated with resilience.

On the face of it, resilience doesn’t seem to be the preserve of the gifted few

Is resilience a personality

trait?

Traits“Dimensions of individual differences in tendencies to show consistent patterns of thoughts, feelings, and actions”

(McCrae & Costa, 1990)

TraitsDynamic organization, inside the person, of psychophysical systems that create a person’s characteristic patterns of behaviour, thoughts, and feelings

Traits“A generalized and focalized neuropsychic system (peculiar to the individual) with capacity to render many stimuli functionally equivalent and to initiate and guide consistent (equivalent) forms of adaptive and expressive behavior.”

(Allport, 1937, p. 295)

Trait theory Personality Trait Stable qualities that a person shows in most situationsContinuous

Personality TypePeople who have several traits in common Categorical

Continuum

Neuroticism

Emotionally stable Neutral Emotionally labile

Resilience?

Resilient? Neutral ?

When resilience has been conceived as a trait, it has been suggested that it represents a constellation of characteristics that enable individuals to adapt to the circumstances they encounter

(Connor & Davidson, 2003)

Constellation of characteristicsWhere have we heard this before?

The typological approach

Attempts to classify people into distinct categories using particular clusters of traits.

What are the antecedents of resiliency?

What are the resiliency clusters?

Stable relationship to primary personEmotionally supportive educational climateRole models for constructive copingSocial support outside the familyResponsibilities in the familyTemperament characteristics (e.g., sociability)

Cognitive competences (e.g., average intelligence)Self-efficacy, positive self-conceptActive, not just reactive coping behaviourMeaningfulness and structure in one‘s developmentRealistic future planningSense of humour

Who do you consider to be a

resilient person?

Are these antecedents or consequences?

1. Are most of your misfortunes in life due toa. Mistakes you’ve made? b. Bad luck?

2. Do you;a. Like to plan ahead, feeling confident that will ensure things work out b. Feel it’s better not to plan too much, as things might change anyway

3. Success is primarily due toa. Hard work b. Luck & being in the right place at the right time

If you tended towards (a) each timeYou have a higher INTERNAL locus of control

If you tended towards (b) each timeYou have a higher EXTERNALlocus of control

• Enjoyment• Interest• Self Esteem• Sense of achievement• Desire to win

Internal

External• Salary/bonuses• Job security• Approval/praise/pleasing others• Promotion• A prize

Money for old rope

Fletcher and Sarkar, 2012

Twelve Olympic champions (8 men and 4 women) from a range of sports were interviewed regarding their experiences of withstanding pressure during their sporting careers

Results indicate that numerous psychological factors (relating to a positive personality, motivation, confidence, focus, and perceived social support) protect the world’s best athletes from the potential negative effect of stressors by influencing their challenge appraisal and metacognitions

How is this different to what we have already covered?

Which theories and frameworks look similar to you?

Split into your groups and then break up into two pairsOne pair makers the case for resilience (conceptual distinctiveness

The other pair makes the case against resilience (no conceptual differentiation)

Martin I. JonesBSc MSc PhD CPsychol CSci AFBPsS SFHEA

m.i.jones@exeter.ac.uk@drmijones