Psychology and Sports – Class 12 Physical Education Notes
Sports Psychology and Its Importance
Psychology is the study of human behaviour.
Sports psychology is a branch of psychology that studies the behaviour, emotions and mental processes of athletes and teams involved in sports and physical activities.
Importance of Sports Psychology
Sports psychology is important because it:
Analyses the behaviour of sportspersons
Helps in identifying talent for specific sports
Creates better learning and training situations
Stabilises athletic performance for a longer period
Encourages athletes to make a comeback after failure or injury
Helps in sports research and performance enhancement
Understanding Stress and Its Management
Stress
Stress is a condition in which a person feels unable to cope with demands or pressure.
In sports, stress negatively affects performance during training and competition.
Management of Stress
Stress among athletes can be reduced through proper planning and healthy habits.
Methods to manage stress:
Regular exercise
Healthy and balanced diet
Adequate sleep and rest
Setting realistic goals
Accepting mistakes and learning from them
Using imagination and visualization
Taking breaks from routine
Practising relaxation techniques
Coping Strategies
Coping refers to conscious efforts made to manage stress and problems.
Types of Coping Strategies
(i) Problem-Focused Coping
This strategy focuses on removing or reducing the cause of stress.
Examples:
Taking control of the situation
Seeking information
Evaluating the problem logically
(ii) Emotion-Focused Coping
This strategy focuses on managing emotional responses to stress, especially when the stressor cannot be changed.
Examples:
Keeping oneself busy
Letting off emotional pressure
Praying or meditation
Distracting oneself (TV, music, hobbies)
Mentally preparing for worst situations
Personality
The word personality comes from the Latin word persona, meaning mask.
Personality includes an individual’s behaviour, attitudes, habits, emotions and thinking patterns.
Definitions of Personality
According to Macionis:
“Personality is the constant pattern of thinking, feeling and acting.”According to Ogburn and Nimkoff:
“Personality is the totality of sentiments, attitudes, ideas, habits, skills and behaviours of an individual.”
Types of Personality
(A) Sheldon’s Classification (Physical Basis)
1. Endomorph
Round body, wide hips, narrow shoulders
More body fat
Nature: sociable, relaxed, fun-loving, tolerant
2. Ectomorph
Thin body, narrow shoulders and hips
Very little body fat
Nature: introvert, shy, thoughtful, reserved
3. Mesomorph
Muscular body, broad shoulders, narrow waist
Strong limbs
Nature: bold, adventurous, competitive, assertive
(B) Jung’s Classification (Mental Basis)
1. Extroverts
Outgoing, social, confident
Easily make friends
2. Introverts
Reserved, shy, self-centered
Prefer solitude
3. Ambiverts
Balanced mix of introvert and extrovert traits
Adjust easily to situations
Role of Sports in Personality Development
Sports help in overall personality development by teaching:
Team spirit
Leadership qualities
Fair play
Self-confidence
Discipline and focus
Planning and decision-making
Positive attitude
Never-give-up attitude
Big Five Theory of Personality
The Big Five Personality Traits are universal traits.
Extraversion – sociability, assertiveness
Agreeableness – kindness, cooperation
Conscientiousness – discipline, organisation
Neuroticism – emotional instability, anxiety
Openness – creativity, imagination, curiosity
Motivation and Its Types
Motivation is the process that stimulates a person to act towards a goal.
Types of Motivation
1. Intrinsic (Internal) Motivation
Comes from within the individual
Driven by interest, enjoyment and satisfaction
Based on psychological, social and personal needs
2. Extrinsic (External) Motivation
Comes from external factors
Examples:
Rewards and awards
Punishment
Teaching methods
Audio-visual aids
Competitions
Coach-athlete relationship
Techniques of Motivation
Innovative curriculum
Understanding the athlete
Teacher/coach as a motivator
Freedom to beginners
Goal setting
Identifying incentives
Assigning clear roles
Exercise Adherence
Exercise adherence means continuing an exercise programme regularly over a long period.
It is voluntary and largely psychological.
Determinants of Exercise Adherence
Demographic factors (education, income, gender)
Spousal and family support
Group exercise programmes
Early involvement in physical activity
Reasons to Exercise
Longevity
Weight control
Strong bones
Strong immune system
Lower cholesterol levels
Benefits of Exercise
Regular exercise:
Improves mood and reduces stress
Strengthens muscles and bones
Improves cardiovascular fitness
Enhances brain function and memory
Improves sleep quality
Boosts metabolism
Builds self-confidence
Strategies to Enhance Exercise Adherence
Identify situations causing lapses
Make realistic exercise plans
Make exercise enjoyable
Take adequate rest
Prefer group exercise over isolated exercise
Aggression in Sports
Aggression is the intention to cause physical or mental harm.
According to Baron and Richardson:
“Any form of behaviour intended to harm another person who is motivated to avoid such treatment is aggression.”
Concept of Aggression in Sports
Positive aggression: High intensity play within rules
Negative aggression: Intention to harm opponents
Types of Aggression in Sports
1. Instrumental Aggression
Goal-oriented
Positive and controlled
Used to gain advantage within rules
Example: Legal tackle in football
2. Hostile Aggression
Intention to harm opponent
Negative and often uncontrolled
Example: Deliberately injuring an opponent
✍️ Top 10 Short Question–Answers
Q1. What is sports psychology?
👉 Sports psychology is the study of behaviour, emotions and mental processes of athletes in sports situations.
Q2. Why is sports psychology important?
👉 It helps improve performance, learning and mental stability of athletes.
Q3. What is stress?
👉 Stress is a condition where a person feels unable to cope with pressure.
Q4. Name any one method of stress management.
👉 Regular exercise.
Q5. What is coping?
👉 Coping is the effort made to manage stress and problems.
Q6. What is personality?
👉 Personality is the pattern of thinking, feeling and behaviour of an individual.
Q7. Name one type of personality according to Sheldon.
👉 Mesomorph.
Q8. What is motivation?
👉 Motivation is the process that stimulates a person to act towards a goal.
Q9. What is intrinsic motivation?
👉 Motivation that comes from within the individual.
Q10. What is aggression in sports?
👉 Aggression is behaviour intended to cause physical or mental harm.
📝 Long Answer Questions
Q1. Explain sports psychology and its importance.
Sports psychology is a branch of psychology that studies behaviour and mental processes of athletes.
Importance:
Analyses behaviour of sportspersons
Helps in talent identification
Improves learning and training
Stabilises performance
Helps athletes recover after failure or injury
Enhances sports performance
Q2. Explain stress and methods of stress management in sports.
Stress affects performance negatively.
Methods of stress management:
Regular exercise
Balanced diet
Adequate rest and sleep
Setting realistic goals
Accepting mistakes
Visualization and imagination
Relaxation techniques
Q3. Explain coping strategies used by athletes.
Coping strategies help manage stress.
Types:
Problem-focused coping:
Solving the cause of stress
Logical evaluation
Seeking information
Emotion-focused coping:
Managing emotions
Meditation and prayer
Distraction and relaxation
Q4. Explain types of personality.
Sheldon’s classification:
Endomorph: Round body, sociable
Ectomorph: Thin body, introvert
Mesomorph: Muscular body, competitive
Jung’s classification:
Extrovert: Outgoing
Introvert: Reserved
Ambivert: Balanced
Q5. Explain aggression in sports and its types.
Aggression is intentional harm-causing behaviour.
Types:
Instrumental aggression: Controlled, goal-oriented, within rules
Hostile aggression: Intentional harm, uncontrolled
📝 Previous Years’ Questions (PYQs ONLY)
🔹 Very Short Answer Questions (1 Mark)
What is sports psychology?
Define stress.
What is coping?
Write one method of stress management.
What is personality?
Who gave the concept of Endomorph, Mesomorph and Ectomorph?
What is intrinsic motivation?
Define extrinsic motivation.
What is aggression in sports?
What is exercise adherence?
🔹 Short Answer Questions (2–3 Marks)
Explain the importance of sports psychology.
What is stress? Write its effects on sports performance.
Explain problem-focused coping strategy.
Explain emotion-focused coping strategy.
Write any two characteristics of mesomorph personality.
Differentiate between introvert and extrovert personality.
Write any two benefits of exercise.
What is motivation? Explain any one type.
Explain instrumental aggression with example.
Write any two strategies to enhance exercise adherence.
🔹 Long Answer Questions (4–5 Marks)
Explain sports psychology and its importance in sports performance.
Explain stress and methods of stress management in sports.
Explain coping strategies used by sportspersons.
Explain personality and its types according to Sheldon and Jung.
Explain motivation and its types in sports.
Explain exercise adherence. Write its benefits and strategies to improve it.
Explain aggression in sports. Differentiate between instrumental and hostile aggression.
❓ FAQs (5)
FAQ 1. How does sports psychology help athletes?
👉 It improves confidence, focus and performance.
FAQ 2. Why is stress harmful in sports?
👉 It reduces concentration and performance.
FAQ 3. How does sport help in personality development?
👉 It builds discipline, leadership and self-confidence.
FAQ 4. What is exercise adherence?
👉 Continuing exercise regularly over a long period.
FAQ 5. Why is motivation important in sports?
👉 It drives athletes to achieve goals and improve performance.
| Chapter No. | Chapter Name | Visit |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Planning in Sports | Visit |
| 2 | Sports and Nutrition | Visit |
| 3 | Yoga and Lifestyle | Visit |
| 4 | Physical Education and Sports for CWSN (Divyangs) | Visit |
| 5 | Children and Sports | Visit |
| 6 | Women and Sports | Visit |
| 7 | Test and Measurement in Sports | Visit |
| 8 | Physiology and Sports | Visit |
| 9 | Sports Medicine | Visit |
| 10 | Kinesiology, Biomechanics and Sports | Visit |
| 11 | Psychology and Sports | Visit |
| 12 | Training in Sports | Visit |
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