Hostname: page-component-6898cfcb55-th4rj Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2026-11-11T09:38:58.053Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Cognitive Processes and Sports Performance

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 October 2014

Neil J. McLean
Neil J. McLean*
Affiliation:
University of Western Australia
Get access

Abstract

In focussing on the relationship between cognition and sports performance, sports psychology is following a trend evident in other areas in psychology. Sports psychology research has borrowed conceptually and methodologically from cognitive-behavioural researchers within clinical psychology. This article reviews five areas of research: imagery; self talk; self efficacy; attentional focus and concentration; and decision making. Of these topics, imagery has attracted the most research interest, and strategies of mental rehearsal are frequently used by athletes.

Attempts to apply the theories of self talk and self efficacy to sports performance appear promising. The self efficacy research has demonstrated that expectations of success influence performance. As yet, little attention has been paid to the second part of Bandura's theory: the effect of outcome expectations on performance.

The sporting environment is often complex with the athlete frequently required to make numerous decisions. Decision making has been studied in a range of settings (e.g., medical decision making, jury decisions etc.) but has been largely ignored by sports psychologists. Issues relating to the decision making of the athlete are discussed.

Information

Type
Articles
Information
Behaviour Change , Volume 3 , Issue 2 , June 1986, pp. 112 - 119
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 1986

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Article purchase

Temporarily unavailable

References

REFERENCES

Bandura, A. (1977) Self efficacy: Toward a unifying theory of behavioural change. Psychological Review, 84, 191–215.Google Scholar
Barling, J., & Abel, M. (1983). Self-efficacy beliefs and tennis performance. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 7, 265–272.Google Scholar
Boyle, P. (1985). A comparison of cognitive-behavioural and behavioural strategies for the treatment of secondary orgasmic dysfunction. Unpublished Master's Thesis—University of Western Australia.Google Scholar
Cacioppo, J.T., Glass, C.R., & Merluzzi, R.V. (1979). Self statements and self evaluations: A cognitive response analysis of heterosocial anxiety. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 3, 249–262.Google Scholar
Corbin, C.B. (1972). Mental practice. In Morgan, W.P. (Ed.) Ergogenic aids and muscular performance. New York: Academic Press, 93–118.Google Scholar
Ellis, A. (1962). Reason and emotion in psychotherapy. New York: Stuart.Google Scholar
Epstein, M.L. (1980). The relationship of mental imagery and mental rehearsal to performance of a motor task. Journal of Sport Psychology, 2, 211–220.Google Scholar
Gravel, R., Lemieux, G., & Ladouceur, R. (1980). Effectiveness of a cognitive behavioral treatment package for cross-country ski racers. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 4, 83–90.Google Scholar
Hamilton, S.A., & Fremouw, W.J. (1985). Cognitive behavioral training for college basketball free throw performance. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 9, 479–483.Google Scholar
Kendall, P.C., & Hollon, S.D. (1981). Assessing self referent speech. In Kendall, P.C. & Hollon, S.D.. (Eds.) Assessment strategies for cognitive behavioral interventions. New York: Academic Press, 85–118.Google Scholar
Kirchenbaum, D.S., & Bale, R.M. (1980). Cognitive behavioral skills in golf; Brain power golf. In Suinn, R. (Ed.) Psychology in sports: Methods and applications. Minneapolis: Burgess, (pp.334–343).Google Scholar
Klinger, E., Barta, S.G., & Glas, R.A. (1981). Thought content and gap time in basketball. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 5, 109–114.Google Scholar
Lane, J.F. (1980). Improving athletic performance through visuo-motor behavior rehearsal. In Suinn, R. (Ed.), Psychology in sports: Methods and applications. Minneapolis: Burgess, (pp. 316–320).Google Scholar
Mahoney, M.J., & Avener, M. (1977). Psychology of the elite athlete: An exploratory study. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 1, 135–141.Google Scholar
Marlatt, G.A., & Gordon, J.R. (1985). Relapse prevention. New York: Guilford.Google Scholar
Masters, W., & Johnson, V. (1970). Human sexual inadequacy. Boston: Little, Brown & Co.Google Scholar
Meichenbaum, D. (1977). Cognitive Behavior Modification. New York: Plenum.Google Scholar
Morgan, W.P. (1978). The mind of the marathoner. Psychology Today, 11, 38–49.Google Scholar
Morgan, W.P., & Pollock, J.L. (1977). Psychologic characterization of the elite distance runner. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 301, 382–403.Google Scholar
Morgan, W.P., Horstmann, D.H., Cymerman, A., & Stokes, J. (1983). Facilitation of physical performance by means of a cognitive strategy. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 7, 251–264.Google Scholar
Meyers, A.W., Cooke, C.J., Cullen, J., & Liles, L. (1979). Psychological aspects of athletic competitors: A replication across sports. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 3, 361–366.Google Scholar
Nelson, L.R., & Furst, M.L. (1972). An objective study of the effects of expectation on competitive performance. Journal of Psychology, 81, 69–72.Google Scholar
Ness, R.G., & Patton, R.W. (1979). The effects of beliefs on maximum weight lifting performance. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 3, 205–211.Google Scholar
Nicklaus, J. (1974). Golf my way. New York: Simon & Schuster.Google Scholar
Nideffer, R.M. (1976). Test of attentional and interpersonal style. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 34, 394–404.Google Scholar
Noel, R.C. (1980). The effect of visuo-motor behavior rehearsal on tennis performance. Journal of Sport Psychology, 2, 220–26.Google Scholar
Okwumabua, T.M., Meyers, A.W., Schleser, R., & Cooke, C.J. (1983). Cognitive strategies and running performance: an exploratory study. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 7, 363–370.Google Scholar
Powell, G.E. (1973). Negative and positive mental practice in motor skill acquisition. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 37, 312.Google Scholar
Rawlings, E.I., & Rawlings, I.L. (1974). Rotary pursuit tracking following mental rehearsal in the acquisition of rotary pursuit tracking. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 38, 302.Google Scholar
Richardson, A. (1967a). Mental practice: A review and discussion. Part 1. Research Quarterly, 38, 95–107.Google Scholar
Richardson, A. (1967b). Mental practice: A review and discussion. Part II. Research Quarterly, 38, 263–273.Google Scholar
Silva, J.M. (1982). Competitive sports environments. Performance enhancement through cognitive intervention. Behavior Modification, 6, 443–463.Google Scholar
Start, K.B., & Richardson, A. (1964). Imagery and mental practice. British Journal of Educational Psychology, 34, 280–284.Google Scholar
Steel, W.I. (1952). The effect of mental practice on the acquisition of a motor skill. Journal of Physical Education, 44, 101–108.Google Scholar
Suinn, R.M., (1972). Behavior rehearsal training for ski racers. Behavior Therapy, 3, 519.Google Scholar
Suinn, R.M. (1983). Imagery and sports. In Sheikh, A.A. (Ed.) Imagery: Current theory, research and application New York: Wiley, (pp. 507–534).Google Scholar
Titley, R.M. (1976). The loneliness of the longdistance kicker. The Athletic Journal, 74–80.Google Scholar
Webster, R. (1984). Winning Ways. Sydney: Fontana.Google Scholar
Weinberg, R.S. (1982). The relationship between mental preparation strategies and motor performance: A review and critique. Quest, 33, 195–213.Google Scholar
Weinberg, R., Gould, D. & Jackson, A. (1979). Expectations and performance: An empirical test of Bandura's self-efficacy theory. Journal of Sport Psychology, 1, 320–331.Google Scholar
Woolfolk, R.L., Parrish, M.W., & Murphy, S.M. (1985). The effects of positive and negative imagery on motor skill performance. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 9, 335–341.Google Scholar