Psychology of peak performance (continued)

Chapter 9

The Problem

• Identify an ideal/gold standard

• Mindset is variable– Subject to internal influences– Subject to external influences

• Need to look at inputs, through puts, and outputs

High Performance Mindset

High Performance Mindset

Neuroanatomy of a High Performance Mindset?

• My Stroke of Insight– See TED talk by Jill Bolte Taylor– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyyjU8fzEYU

Roadmap to Optimal Performance:

Individual Characteristics

& Traits

Preparation Activities

Performance Mindset

(prospective)

Performance Events

Psychological Experience

(retrospective)

•Skill-chal bal•Merge act-awar•Clear goals•Clear fb•Total conc.•Sense of control•No self-consc•Altered time•Hi satisfaction

•Clear goals•Challenging goals•Meaningful goals•Energized & loose•Low perc. effort•Certain of success•Empowered by challenge•Autopilot•Certainty ampl•Attend to rel. info• In the moment•Empowering intx

Inputs: Psychological characteristics of successful athletes

• Gould Dieffenbach & Moffett (2002). Psychological characteristics and their development in Olympic champions. J Appl Spo Psych, 14, 172-204.– Ability to cope with & control anxiety– Confidence– Mental toughness/resilience– Ability to focus & block out distractions– Competitiveness– Hard work ethic– Ability to set & achieve goals– Coachability– Sport intelligence– High levels of dispositional hope– Optimism– Adaptive perfectionism

Mental Toughness

• Jones, Hanton & Connaughton (2002)• What is the ideal profile of a mentally tough

performer?

Ideal Individual Habits/Characteristics: Characteristics of Mental Toughness

1. Unshakable self belief in your ability to achieve your competitive goals

2. Bouncing back from performance set backs with increased determination

3. Unshakable self-belief that you possess unique qualities that make you superior

4. Insatiable desire & internalized motives to succeed

5. Remaining fully focused in the face of competition-specific distractions

6. Regaining psych control following unexpected, uncontrollable events

7. Pushing back the boundaries of physical and emotional pain while maintaining technique and effort under distress in training and competition

8. Accepting that competition anxiety is inevitable and knowing you can cope with it

9. Not being adversely affected by others’ good and bad perf.

10. Thriving on the pressure of competition

11. Remaining fully-focused in the face of personal life distractions

12. Switching a sport focus on and off as required

Habits of successful athletes

• Mahoney & Avener (1977)– Coped better with competitive mistakes– Better able to channel anxiety– Higher self-confidence– More gymnastics-related dreams– More frequent internal imagery

• Results have been replicated many times in a variety of sports

Individual Habits & Characteristics

• Summarized on Roadmap model