This book presents first-time research findings and new empirically based perspectives and applications in sport psychology.Highly provocative data derived from the largest single study ever on athletes is used to advance an original model of peak performance centering on a clearly emerging athlete's profile. Central to the book is the Theory of Critical Moments, which proposes that mental factors are most crucial during specifically delineated psychologically significant periods of competition and helps explain when and why intrusive cognitions influence performance.
Through a series of innovative critical readings Richard Hunter builds a picture of how the ancients discussed the meaning of literary works and their importance in society. He pays particular attention to the interplay of criticism and creativity by not treating criticism in isolation from the works which the critics discussed. Attention is given both to the development of a history of criticism, as far as our sources allow, and to the constant recurrence of similar themes across the centuries. At the head of the book stands the contest of Aeschylus and Euripides in Aristophanes' Frogs which foreshadows more of the subsequent critical tradition than is often realised. Other chapters are devoted to ancient reflection on Greek and Roman comedy, to the Augustan critic Dionysius of Halicarnassus, to 'Longinus', On the Sublime, and to Plutarch. All Greek and Latin is translated.
This is the first book to call for a major paradigm shift in applied sport psychology by providing a wealth of systematic, scientifically validated research in a field where assessment and treatment has often been haphazard. In his quest to bring sport psychology to a higher level of validity, Dr. Carlstedt describes the most current assessment methods, intervention procedures, and promising research that are critical for use in evidence-based practice. These assessment and treatment methods are based on 25 years of rigorous scientific approaches and principles that incorporate the most sophisticated research methods now available. The book describes the mechanisms that influence peak performance or psychological performance deficits and the mental training process, and provides procedures that will take the guesswork out of typical assessment and mental training. It offers tools with which practitioners can reexamine their modus operandi and critically explore the mechanism of interaction outcomes. To this end, the book includes extensive data sets on personality, behavioral tendencies, mind-body responses, and performance outcome. Dr. Carlstedt advocates moving beyond compartmentalized therapeutic sessions in the office to directly observe athletic performance during training and actual competition. The text also contains individual and team case studies to enhance its focus on individualized, efficacy-tested protocols for each individual athlete. Key Features: Presents a detailed client-centered assessment and intervention model grounded in technology-supported, step-by-step procedures, followed by efficacy testing Focuses on the importance of empirical scrutiny and individualized, efficacy-tested protocols for each individual athlete Describes the Carlstedt Protocol containing a visualization efficiency test among many other technologically based assessment and training tools Provides a roadmap for achieving a gold-standard system of accountability Practitioners will learn how to work within Carlstedt's integrative model to improve athlete performance and contribute to the advancement of evidence-based applied sport psychology.
These critical essays examine ways in which political culture interacts with the world's religions, and within the context of religious pluralism. The authors raise the issue regarding the way religion affects political modernization, and, conversely, how social and political realities may define and determine the boundaries of religion(s). Critical Moments in Religious History addresses issues of vital concern, religious and political, theological and social issues that, indeed, remain critical.
"This is the long-awaited text on interdisciplinary treatment and assessment of, among other clinical topics, brain-derived behavioral, cognitive, and neurological disorders...." --Niels Birbaumer, PhD University of T ̧bingen, Germany Member of the German Academy of Sciences, Leopoldina "Gone is the unidimensional approach of the expert summarizing a topic from a single vantage point. Instead, the content shifts laterally, embracing not only interdisciplinary expertise, but an integrative way of thinking that transcends each discipline....What makes the Handbook so refreshing is that this cross pollination of ideas and approaches is more than novel theorizing. It offers clinicians a new way forward." --Anthony Feinstein, MD, MPhil, PhD, FRCP University of Toronto To maintain the highest standards, allied health care practitioners must keep pace with evolving trends in diagnostics, interventions, and methodologies. This book supports clinicians by disseminating important perspectives, research, and procedures. It provides an integrative roadmap that fosters interdisciplinary cooperation. Key Features: Presents reviews of research on a broad selection of clinical disorders Includes a wide range of established and emerging diagnostic and intervention approaches Discusses viable evidence-based alternative treatment methods Critiques certain approaches, paradigms, and practices that may need to be revised Includes contributions from renowned psychologists, psychiatrists, and researchers Clinicians, researchers, and students will find this book a valuable source for interdisciplinary practice and research. It facilitates a sorely needed move toward integrative practice in an era in which specialization pervades.
Out of the broad arena of sport science and sport psychology, Roland A. Carlstedt presents a comprehensive collection on the neuroscience and associated psychophysiology that underlies and drives sport performance. Featuring sections ranging from the basics and foundations (anatomy and physiology) to the applied (assessment during competition, training, and mental training), Handbook of Sport Neuroscience and Psychophysiology is the first volume to provide students, researchers, practitioners, and coaches the latest knowledge on the brain, mind-body processes, and psychophysiological responding in the context of sport performance.
Athletes participating at all levels of endurance performance can relate to the impact of psychological factors. Whether it is motivation, self-belief, feeling nervous before a race, exercise-induced pain, sticking to a pacing strategy, or thoughts around what to focus on, there are a vast number of psychological factors which can affect endurance performance. Bringing together experts in the field from around the world, this is the first text to provide a detailed overview of the psychology of endurance performance where there is a research and an applied focus looking at both main theoretical models as well as how interventions can support an athlete’s efficacy and well-being. The authors look at regulatory processes around pain, decision-making, self-belief, emotions, and meta-cognition, before examining a range of cognitive strategies, including the use of imagery, goals, self-talk, and mindfulness techniques. With a final section of the book outlining issues related to mental health that are relevant to endurance performance, the book shows that the future of research and application of psychological theory in endurance performance in sport is bright and thriving. Aimed at researchers, students, coaches, and athletes themselves, this is essential reading for anyone wishing to better understand how our minds experience endurance in performance arenas, and what psychological techniques can be used to make us more efficient.
Get your head in the game with this hands-on guide to the psychology of sport There's more to getting into the right headspace for the big game or event than trying to think like a winner. Modern sports psychologists emphasize advanced strategies like biofeedback and neurofeedback, while encouraging the use of mindfulness and other mental health techniques. In Sports Psychology For Dummies, 2nd Edition, a team of athletic performance experts and psychologists walks you through the mental side of intense competition and training. From the importance of focus to the tactics designed to restore and improve confidence after a loss, you'll explore ideas such as goal setting, self-perception, and self-talk. This book also covers: Personalized plans for athletic success Real-life examples of sports psychology changing the athletic experience in different sports The wide variety of careers available in the field of sports psychology and how to get started in them Ideal for athletes, parents of student athletes, and coaches looking for ways to improve performance both on and off the field, Sports Psychology For Dummies is also the perfect resource for anyone interested in a career in this rapidly growing and evolving field.
Advancements in Mental Skills Training presents contemporary evidence-based intervention approaches from leading sport psychology researchers and practitioners. The book comprehensively examines the use of mental skills training for athletic performance and well-being from a cross-cultural perspective. It begins by introducing theoretical advancements related to mental toughness, cultural factors, performance optimisation and mindfulness. It goes on to examine the technological advancements related to mental skills training, outlining how mobile technologies can be used to measure and train perceptual-cognitive skills, and the effectiveness of virtual reality in mental training. The book concludes by discussing emerging topics, such as how sports psychology can incorporate spirituality, minority groups in sport and the impact of prejudice, and referee career development. This insightful text introduces the potential for sport psychology to be integrated into our daily functioning and provides strategies for athletes to optimize their performance and bolster their mental health. It will be an essential read for all sport psychology researchers as well as professionals working in the field.