PSY FPX 8840 Assessment 1

Exploring the Theoretical Framework in Sport Psychology

Session sport psychology focuses on enriching human experiences through exercise and sport, as well as enhancing performance. Sport psychologists do not look at sport just as a method of enhancing performance but rather as a means of developing human beings. Practitioners build upon various theories to create personal theories of therapy and work. The theories may encompass social cognitive theory, as well as information processing theory.

Social Cognitive Theory

Social cognitive theory identifies the social dimension of learning, in which attention is on interactions between individuals, environment, and behavior. Both external and internal social influences, along with past experience, shape learning processes. Participants share interactions with their behaviors and environments that affect their learning of skills and performance. In addition, an athlete’s attributional style, mediated by social cognitive factors, can possibly affect their perceived control and stability in performance.

Information Processing Theory

Social cognitive theory emphasizes the social element of learning with attention to bidirectional interactions among people, environment, and behavior. External and internal social forces, along with prior experience, determine learning processes. Players experience bidirectional interactions between their behaviors and environments that impact their skill acquisition and performance. Furthermore, a sportsperson’s attributional style, as moderated by social cognitive processes, can impact his or her perceived control and stability in performance.

Application and Case Study

Observing the application of social cognitive theory in university cheerleading, a teammate’s poor performance in academics affecting her team participation was tackled. Initially blaming her issues on external conditions such as class scheduling, she shifted her attitude upon observing the same environmental pressures. This realization, together with intrinsic motivation and team support, resulted in academic improvement and subsequently better cheerleading performance.

PSY FPX 8840 Assessment 1 Theoretical Framework Essay 

Rotter, J. B. (1966). Rotter’s internal-external control scale. PsychTESTS.

Schunk, D. H. (2016). Learning theories: An educational perspective (7th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson.