APPLICATION OF PSYCHOLOGY IN PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND SPORTS

- Dr. Sundar Raj Urs

BRANCHES OF PSYCHOLOGYI. Basic science Abnormal  Biological Cognitive  Developmental Experimental  Evolutionary Mathematical  Neuropsychology Personality  Positive Psychophysics  Social /Transpersonal

II. Applied science Clinical · Educational Forensic Health Industrial and organizational School  Exercise and Sports

MEANING AND DEFINITION

Sport psychology is the scientific study of people and their behaviors in sport contexts and the practical application of that knowledge.

Sport psychologists identify principles and guidelines that professionals can use to help adults and children participate in and benefit from sport and exercise activities in both team and individual environments.

Sport psychologists have two objectives in mind: (a) to understand how psychological factors affect an individual's physical performance

(b) to understand how participation in sport and exercise affects a person's psychological development, health and well-being.

Sport psychology deals with increasing performance by managing emotions and minimizing the psychological effects of injury and poor performance.

Some of the most important skills taught are goal setting, relaxation, visualization, self-talk, awareness and control, concentration, confidence, using rituals, attribution training, and periodization.

WHAT DO SPORT PSYCHOLOGISTS DO?

The contemporary sport psychologist is expected to fill three primary roles, they are: Research, Teaching and Consulting.

Research: The primary role of any participant in tertiary education is to further the knowledge in that field. Sport psychologists conduct research in many areas. They may study the arousal levels of athletes before a hockey game, or ask children why they play sport. The findings are then shared with colleagues, allowing others to benefit from this research.

Teaching: Many trained sport psychologists are expected to teach in their chosen field, whether it be at a tertiary level or teaching an intern in the field of psychology. This is so the skill is passed on and sport psychology remains strong around the world.

Consulting: The consulting process is very important as one has to consult with individual athletes or team athletes to derive skills to enhance performance levels. Some sport and exercise psychologists work in the fitness industry to design exercise programs that maximize participation and promote psychological well-being.

THE HISTORY OF SPORT PSYCHOLOGY

The history of sport psychology dates back to the late 1800s and from there has grown in to a scientific phenomenon to enhance the performance of individuals in the area of sport. The history of sport psychology falls into six periods, they are;

Period 1: The Early years (1895-1920), Period 2: The Griffith Era (1921-1938), Period 3: Preparation for the Future (1939-1965), Period 4: the Establishment of Academic Sport

psychology (1966-1977), Period 5: Multidisciplinary Science and Practice

in Sport and Exercise Psychology (1978-2000), Period 6: Contemporary Sport and Exercise

Psychology (2000-Present).

SPORT AND EXERCISE PSYCHOLOGY Today, sport and exercise psychologists have

begun to research and provide information in the ways that psychological well-being and vigorous physical activity are related.

This idea of psychophysiology, monitoring brain activity during exercise has aided in this research. Also, sport psychologists are beginning to consider exercise to be a therapeutic addition to healthy mental adjustment.

Just recently have sport psychologists begun to be recognized for the valuable contributions they make in assisting athletes and their coaches in improving performance during competitive situations.

Understanding how physical exercise may contribute to the psychological well-being of non-athletes.

Many can benefit from sport psychologists: a) athletes who are trying to improve their

performance,b) injured athletes who are looking for motivation,c) individuals looking to overcome the pressure of

competition, d) young children involved in youth sports as well as

their parents.

Special focus is geared towards psychological assessment of athletes. Assessment can be both, focused on selection of athletes and the team set up of rosters as well as on professional guidance and counseling of single athletes.

PSYCHOLOGICAL SKILLS TRAINING

Psychological skills training (PST) refers to consistent practice of mental or psychological skills. Coaches and athletes know that physical skills need to be regularly practiced to become better. Similar to physical skills, psychological skills such as maintaining concentration and regulating arousal levels also need to be practiced. Psychological skills training programmes are very common but not limited to the sporting arena. These PST programmes should be planned, implemented and supervised by a trained sport psychologist.

WHY IS PSYCHOLOGICAL SKILLS TRAINING IMPORTANT?

All sport and exercise participants fall victim to mistakes and mental letdowns.

Mental and emotional components often overshadow the purely physical and technical aspects of the performance.

To overcome this, one must become equally fit both mentally and physically.

An individuals success or failure in the sport and exercise arena lies in the ability of the individual to practice both physical and mental skills.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION IN THE NEW MILLENNIUM

Modern Society in the new millennium has envisaged

drastic changes in the entire life style of the populace.

These changes have not only been restricted to any

specific field of life but could be seen in all walks of life.

Academic impetus during the schooling and the Career

impetus while one is on a job emphasize on mental

activities subjecting the person to stress and strain

thereby affecting the mental health and ability to

function at the optimum level irrespective of whether

one is a student or a worker.

A cursory analysis of student’s daily activities shows an overload of mental activities and even on the selected physical activities time urgency is of primary concern.

This had led to a fall in the optimum potential of the student in his activity.

Examination Anxiety, Social isolation, etc. affects the mental health of the student.

The story is not different even after schooling.

The cozy work environment, user-friendly

technology, makes individuals to strive towards

career growth overlooking the health. Stress

related problems are one of the most important

concerns of the management.

Lack of appropriate physical activities, ignorance

of health related knowledge could be the factors

that lead to the above.

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PSYCHOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS

Psychological studies are aimed at establishing

body mind relationship and emphasize that

sound body leads to sound mind. Results of

these studies are useful in enhancing the

physical performance of the sports person and

also the use of physical activities in the

therapy.

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Psychological application in Physical Education

The studies conducted Griest, Klien Faris, German and Margon

Why vigorous physical activity

Positive attitudes

Feel better phenomenon

Patience

Self Confidence

Capacity for change in different situations of Life

Symptoms release and conscious alterations and decision making

Enhanced Psychological well being

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The study conducted by Sachs and Paragam have noticed that withdrawals from regular exercises and running can be easily noted through symptoms such as

anxiety

Tension

Quilt Irritable

Muscle twisting

Nervousness

Degree of Addiction to exercise

Joy of running Mukesh Ambani one of Asia’s richest Businessmen – Regular 14 miles jogging

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Youth Problems especially in the age group of Twenties

Psychological Mal adjustment

Insecurity

Deviate behaviour

Addiction to alcohol

DrugsAnti-social behaviour

Sex related Deviance behaviour

Unemployment Irrational academic educational syllabi

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For the above said problems diagnosis at individual level may not be possible. Hence treatment would also not be sought

Good addiction programmes

Brisk walking

Running Hiking Swimming Physical Exercises

Keep his body and mind

In healthy state and

Avoids from deviate behaviours

• The study conducted by Katzmargy Church

and Blair-2004, established a great level of

relationship between exercise and ‘life style’ –

the study proved that the lack of physical

exercises of activity leads to significant health

threat, low level of physical activity have been

associate with higher insistences of all can be

Mobility and Mortality (Death) particularly with

life style disease, including ceremony leant

disease and type diabetes.

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Exercises leading to Psychological well-being

Personality Changes

Introversion Extraversion

Psychological Parameters of Self Evidence

Self-Sufficiency Imaginativeness Feeling of Control

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• The research conducted by the Dienseber

and his colleagues at the University of

Nebraska, have revealed the significant

implication of our thinking in this area.

• Psychological system involved aerobic

exercises and in the experience of emotional

states are frequently the same. Running may

therefore be expected to have an impact on

short term emotional functioning and

temperament.

• Running may stimulate the development of

the capacity of the sympathetic nervous

system and associated glandular responses in

term.

• This increased psychological capacity may be

the major course for indication of reduced

emotinal tension in both state and trait

studies, as well as the major cause of reduced

anxiety.

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Exercise as a Therapy

• A Safe Psychotherapeutic tool.

• Running Therapy leads to removal of Phobia.

• A general treatment for depression and anxiety.

• Counseling and Psychotherapy - Physical Exercises

- Running and Brick walking

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• Research in the field of psychological and

behavioural medicine have began experimentally

established the fact that mind can effect the body.• This can be noted from psychosomatic disorders as

migraine, headache, Peptic wear, hypertension,

bronchitic asthama and sexual impotence.• It is also becoming evident that the body

appropriately utilize, can affect the mind in

constructive ways.• Thus physical and psychological changes occur

when an individual exercise at 75 to 80% of his or

her maximum cardiac output for 30 minutes at

least 4 or 5 times a week, Burger-1984.

• The research work of Burger suggests that the

changes includes improved mood, self-esteem,

and work performance as well as increased

cardiovascular endurance and improvements in

muscle tone, digestion, and blood volume. The

research also suggested that the prescribed

exercise must be strenuous in order to produce

significant psychological change.• A review of the present youth problems especially

in the age group of twenties, depict a good lot of

psychological maladjustment and related

problems.

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CONCLUSION :

• The felling of runners high may be obtained

through proper guidance by the physical educators

by way of brisk walking or running in a cool, calm

whether with low humidity.

• Physical well-being and health, (both physical and

mental) needs to be encouraged simultaneously.

• Proper orientations is required to the

researchers and academicians towards

the need for changing the attitude of

negative or neutral feeling, towards

physical education to positive feelings.

• I would like to emphasize by a saying

“Save Life Through Physical Activities”.

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SUGGESTED MEASURES

At the School Level Physical Education should not be restricted

to only sports and games.

Emphasis should be not only on winning but participating and

deriving the benefits out of the physical activities.

Theoretical inputs about health, fitness, wellbeing should be

inculcated right from the elementary level.

Periodic feedback about the physical fitness and health of the

student should be made available to the parents through proper

medical examinations from the competent persons.

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Interest and talents among the students need to be

tapped at the earliest and the free periods, vacations

etc. to be utilized to strengthen the potentials.

Physical education should help in developing a

positive health attitude, which need to be adopted in

one’s later life.

At the Adult Level: Recreational facilities provided by

the employer should include scope for rigorous

physical activities.

Stress management strategies in terms of breathing

exercises, relaxation techniques, meditation etc. should

be integrated within one’s work life.

Orientation towards the mal effects of unhealthy food

habits, substance abuses like smoking alcohol are to be

provided periodically at the work place.

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