Understanding the Individual < Exercise and Sport Psychology

Welcome to Unit 1, Understanding the Individual.

As you can see, you're working with clients whose needs and goals are very different. You'll want to make sure you understand the relevance and potential applications of exercise and sport psychology principles so that you can help each client develop skills, understanding, and appropriate programming in support of his or her needs and goals.

It's time to start learning. Please read the introduction and chapter 1 of your text, Exercise and Sport Psychology. This information will provide you with an introduction to the field and an appreciation of personal differences from a psychological perspective.

As you read, think about the following topics:

What is personality, and how might it be affected by situational variables?
What are the implications of self-concept and personal identity for participation and performance in sports and recreational exercise?
What distinguishes the concepts of self-esteem, self-confidence, and self-efficacy, and what is their relevance to sport and exercise participation?

By the time you've finished unit 1, you will understand the concept of personality and how it is affected by situational factors. You will also come to appreciate the relevance of self-concepts such as self-esteem, self-confidence and self-efficacy to the work you do with recreational and elite athletes. Finally, you should develop an awareness of how participation in physical activities may significantly influence a person's identity.

When you've finished the assigned reading, come back to the online course material to answer some questions.