Jones (2002)
Jones, Hanton, & Connaughton (2002), were the first researchers to conceptualized mental toughness. They interviewed 10 international performers to gain their perspectives regarding the topic. Based on the results they defined mental toughness as:
Having the natural or developed psychological edge that enables you to (a) generally, cope better than your opponent with the many demands (competition, training, lifestyle) that sport places on a performer, and (b) specifically, be more consistent and better than your opponents in remaining determined, focused, confident, and in control under pressure. (p. 209)
This study also delineated 12 key attributes of mental toughness; (1) unshakable self-belief in ability to achieve competition
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(2004), were among the first to challenge Jones et al’s 2002 definition on grounds that the definition didn’t succintly define the construct, but rather it explaned what a mentally tough individual is capcable of. In contrast to Jones et al., they defined mental toughness as “an unshakeable perserverance and conviction toward a commmon goal despite pressure or adversity” (p. 6). The researchers argue that their definition is a better representation of mental toughness because it encompasses a larger sample (33 participants), comprised of a greater variety of sports. Furthermore, all the athletes within the sample had a gold medal or world championship, in their respective sport. Middleton et al’s work goes on to divide the construct into a specific orioentation and strategies of mental toughness. Mental toughness orientation is subdivided into four categories: (a) self-belief, (b) task familiarity, (c) motivation, and (d) goal commitment. Middleton et al. listed three separate characteristics under mental toughness strategy: (a) perserverence, (b) task-specific attention, and (c) emotion …show more content…
(p. 69).
In contrast to the definitions provided by Jones et al. (2002), and Clough et al. (2002), this definition is general in nature and identifies the significant role of values, attitudes, cognitions, and emotions, without confining the variables with subjective definitions (i.e., they acknowledge the importance of the variables but restrained from pontificating their exact role without sufficient evidence). It can be said that Gucciardi’s definition encompasses a more task-based approach, not ego-based definition, because it describes how an individual progresses towards his/her goals by examining both the outcomes and processes of mental toughness. In contrast, the definitions provided by Jones et al., Middleton et al., and Clough et al., rely on social comparison and achieving superiority over the
Clough, Peter and Doug Strycharczyk. Developing mental toughness: improving performance, wellbeing and positive behaviour in others. London: Kogan page, 2012. Book.
Many outside the sports world never will know about the “real” things involved in sports. Sports are not just competitions between two opponents trying to claim they are more supreme than the other. There is more of a psychological aspect that most people miss all together sometimes. It is clearly evident with the information given that there is some sort of psychological aspect behind sports. Whether it may be the pre-game jitters the athletes may experience, the relationship each of them has with the stadium crowd, and the toll each match has on the their bodies. Sports psychology in general can be a difficult concept for many to understand. Before you diverge into that world however, one simple question remains “Are you tough enough to handle it?”
You often hear the word “tough” used in context to describe a person or to define how difficult something may be. When it comes to basketball or sports in general, the word “tough” is much more complicated than that. Toughness is something that has to be learned. Jay Bilas, a former player of the Duke Blue Devils, believes toughness is often thought to be a physical strength, when in reality toughness is a skill (Bilas). Bilas recalls hearing the word “toughness” getting thrown around a lot on television by reporters and players. He remembers wondering “Do people really understand what coaches and experienced players mean when they emphasize toughness in basketball?” (Bilas 1). His curiosity drove him to dig deeper and write about how toughness
What is excellence? Is it perfection, a goal, a feeling, a gift? To some athletes, it is an everyday challenge that comes easy; to others it might not be so easy. Whether it holds a psychological meaning or it’s just another goal to set, it shows a persons attitude and dedication towards a sport. To what extremes will people actually go to reach excellence? Some athletes strive so hard that they will try almost anything to reach their peak of excellence, the extremes that some go through to reach that peak may be either a safe or dangerous road to travel.
Athletes are often viewed specially because of their intense determination. They often beat themselves up in order to overcome what they think they can do. Breaking this threshold nearly always requires the overcoming of adversity. In sports psychology, when an athlete “not only makes it through [his] adversity, but acquires additional protective factors in the process”, he has undergone what is known as “resilient reintegration” (Galli, Nick, and Robin S. Vealey 318). This is especially the case when “an athlete returns with a greater appreciation of sport or a stronger work ethic than before” (319). According to exercise and sport scientist Galli’s study, athletes who overcame adversity were ninety percent more capable to cope with future adversities and perform “well in both sport and in life” (320). It is no surprise that people who have overcome adversities in their past are better suited to overcome them again. What is a surprise is how far this truly goes. In fact, this study shows that athletes who have returned from an
The age of overwhelming strength and stamina governing sports is over, and the age of the mentally tough athlete has arrived. Athletes are no longer the superficial jocks and robots programmed to accomplish one goal, victory. Modern athletes ranging from the high school to professional levels are faced with many pressures and temptations, normally outside the realm of their sport. These pressures can inhibit an athlete’s performance substantially; therefore, the pressures need to be dealt with by psychologists. The effectiveness of sports psychology is demonstrated through the fields many theories, applications, and variety of techniques and procedures.
Aspiring baseball players need to understand the importance of the facets of the mental aspect of athletic performance and how it transcends into the execution on the field. Mental or cognitive skills are integrally important in the development of the player, especially the youth player. The right attitude towards the game and training for the game are essential to peak performance on the field. It is relatively often we witness those individuals whom do not appear to possess the pure physical attributes to find exceptional success on the field. However, they seem to excel at every level they endeavor to. We ask ourselves why and how do they succeed with what appears to be physical deficiencies (This term is only used in the athletic context) rendering them at a disadvantage to other more physically gifted individuals. The answer is found in understanding The Mental Game of Baseball. These players have mastered the mental aspects of peak performance, opening their mind to the necessary symmetry between the cognitive functions of the mind and the physical performance of the body. many players have no problem with the physical training for the game of baseball or performing the necessary baseball exercises for better performance. However, the mental aspect of the game and performance on the field is a much
Toughness is just a term that many individuals use to describe they’re ability to believe that their not weak in any way. Playing the game of basketball and being a part of the team is more than just being tough. Basketball is more of being determined, strong, and willing to become a better athlete. When you have the mindset that I am tough and no one can give you pointers to make your game better. Does not make you an athlete nor makes you tough. What makes any ball player tough are the struggles and the process you go through to make you better. We as players have our ups and downs. As soon as we give up, were no longer determined, strong, and willing. As soon as we give up this problem is what makes us weak, and what coach wants a weak player on their team that gives up in any possible way. There are three words that describe the term tough and these words are being determined, being strong , and willing to learn and become an overachiever in the game of basketball.
A person’s mental strength can have an impact on their potential to succeed in a sport. Their actions will show how determined they are to reach that potential, and this idea is written about in “Confessions of a Doper” by Jonathan Vaughters. “At 5:30 every morning,” he would practice cycling, and this shows immense determination and love for his sport.(89) Another example of this determination is when he mentions the “loss of friends and social contact.”(89) Many people want to have a thriving social life, yet Vaughters would choose cycling over most anything. There
An example of this is in the essay Confessions of a doper by Jonathan Vaughters. When playing sports you have to have the “resolve” to do it as said in the essay.(8) Physical strength is not only physical ability but also, self centeredness. For those who do not have much physical prowess in sports, the mind evens the playing field. The mind opens up opportunities where we once believed there were none. With critical thinking we can overwhelm even the most worthy opponents. There are some methods of self defense that do not matter if you are the smallest in your class or age group. Tickery, mind games and quick thinking let you outsmart most
Existing psychological literature on the aspects of resistance training provides some insight into areas of mental health and sport psychology (Stone, 2009). This includes psychological well-being, self-concept, self-esteem, self-efficacy, and self-worth. Additionally, the well-being of the players includes the mental and physical preparation for a season. Psychological skills that may serve athletes and others participating in resistance training includes: goal setting, relaxation, concentration, imagery, and ritualization (Ogilvie, 1995). The research in the areas of sports science has evolved over the past few years with the emergence of new techniques that help players train to improve performance. Upcoming studies in this area of sports science advocate the necessity of implementation of a sports program that focus on resistance training based on the sports program three metabolic pathways to improve anxiety and
athletes are physically talented and train hard. But what separates the good athletes from the best is simply their mental strength (Gregoire 1). Someone could be the most talented at...
Wiese-Bjornstal, D. M., Smith, A. M., & LaMott, E. E. (1995). A model of psychological response to athletic injury and rehabilitation. Athletic training: Sport health care perspectives, 17-30.
Sports psychology continues to evolve in order to ensure that comprehensive and evidence-based psychological services are available for athletes and teams. Giving athletes an understanding of their psychological functioning, and building the ability to implement a range of psychological strategies in competition enables athletes to both execute their skills and thrive under pressure as they strive to reach their performance potential.
According to Damon and his colleague, teams and individuals can attain greater consistent levels of confidence if it is based on performance as opposed to outcome. Scholars argue that performance goals are flexible and in apposition to enable athletes to be in control. Progressive achievement in performance will propel athletes to goals achievement and improve motivation. Eventually, their success will be manifested in their tremendous performance which will also attract higher levels of self-confidence. Contrary, the sports people with outcome confidence often believe that higher performance could allow them to improve their social image. All this confirms that the success in sports is integrated with the levels of self-confidence, performance, and outcome. However, it is advisable for athletes and other sports people to focus on their performance but not their outcomes if there is need to improve their skills for the sake of goals