Psychology Notes
Performance Psychology
Study notes on motivation, focus, goal-setting, and optimizing performance under pressure.
Introduction to Sport & Exercise Psychology
An overview of the field of sport and exercise psychology — what it studies, who practices it, and how mental skills transfer beyond the playing field.
Goal-Setting Theory
Locke and Latham's goal-setting theory and the practical application of SMART goals to boost performance
Motivation in Sport and Performance
What drives athletes to train, compete, and persist — a look at intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, achievement goal theory, and what sustains long-term engagement.
Arousal, Anxiety, and Performance
How physiological arousal and competitive anxiety affect performance — and why the same level of activation can help one athlete and hurt another.
Concentration and Attentional Focus
What attention is, how it works in sport and performance contexts, and the practical skills for maintaining concentration under pressure.
Imagery and Visualization
The science and practice of mental imagery in sport — how mentally rehearsing performance activates the same neural pathways as physical practice.
Pre-Performance Routines
How structured pre-performance routines consolidate mental skills, reduce anxiety, and create consistent readiness — and the evidence behind their effectiveness.
Psychological Skills: What They Are and How to Develop Them
An overview of the core psychological skills used in sport and performance — what they are, how they are assessed, and how they are systematically developed.
Self-Talk: The Inner Dialogue of High Performers
What self-talk is, how it affects performance, and the evidence-based strategies for turning inner dialogue into a consistent performance asset.
Group Cohesion and Leadership in Teams
The psychology of team dynamics — what cohesion is, how it affects performance, and what leadership behaviors create the conditions for teams to thrive.
Psychological Issues in Sport: Exercise Addiction and Eating Disorders
The darker side of sport psychology — understanding exercise addiction, disordered eating, and the psychological factors that make athletes vulnerable to these conditions.
Psychology of Diverse Athletes
How identity, culture, and social context shape the psychological experience of athletes — and what inclusive practice looks like in sport and performance settings.