A Critical Introduction to Sport Psychology

This new fourth edition remains the only textbook in the field which provides a detailed overview of key theories, concepts and findings within the discipline of sport psychology, as well as a critical perspective that examines and challenges these core foundations. Fully revised and updated, the new edition covers topics affecting both participation and performance in sport, including motivation, anxiety, emotional coping, concentration, mental imagery, expertise, and team cohesion. In addition, the book includes a range of helpful features that bring the science to life, including critical thinking exercises, suggestions for student projects, boxes highlighting key advances in theory or practice, and end-of-chapter summaries. The final chapter examines some new horizons in sport psychology, including embodied cognition, and a comprehensive glossary is also included. Sport is played with the body but often won in the mind; that is the theory. A Critical Introduction to Sport Psychology is the definitive textbook for anyone wishing to engage critically with this fascinating idea.

Aidan Moran was Professor of Cognitive Psychology and Director of the Psychology Research Laboratory in University College Dublin, Ireland. A Fulbright Scholar, he was the Founding Editor-in-Chief of the International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology, advised many of Ireland's leading professional athletes and teams, and was a former psychologist to the Irish Olympic Squad. John Toner is a Senior Lecturer in Sports Coaching and Performance in the School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Hull, UK.

Introduction Chapter 1: Introducing sport psychology: discipline and profession Part I: Exploring Athletic Performance: Key Constructs Chapter 2: Motivation and goal-setting in sport Chapter 3: "Psyching up" and calming down: anxiety in sport Chapter 4: Emotions and coping Chapter 5: Staying focused in sport: concentration in sport performers Chapter 6: Using imagination in sport: mental imagery, motor imagery and mental practice in athletes Chapter 7: What lies beneath the surface? Investigating expertise in sport Part II: Team Cohesion Chapter 8: Exploring team cohesion in sport: a critical perspective Part III: New Directions in Sport Psychology Chapter 9: New Horizons: Embodied cognition Glossary References Author Index Subject Index