Sport Psychology & Leisure
Sport and exercise psychology studies the psychological factors in sport, physical activity, and leisure, and their effects on performance and well-being.
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Scope
It covers motivation and performance in sport, the psychological benefits of exercise, and the experience of leisure and optimal performance.
Sub-topics
Core questions
- What psychological factors shape athletic performance?
- How does exercise affect mental health?
- What produces peak or 'flow' experiences?
- How does leisure contribute to well-being?
Key concepts
- Flow
- Motivation
- Arousal and performance
- Exercise and mental health
- Leisure
Key theories
- Flow / optimal experience
- Csikszentmihalyi described 'flow', the absorbed state of optimal experience relevant to sport and leisure.
History
Sport and exercise psychology grew as an applied field from the mid-twentieth century, drawing on motivation and performance research and concepts such as flow.
Debates
- Does arousal help or hurt performance?
- The relationship between arousal and performance (e.g., inverted-U) is a classic question.
Key figures
- Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
Related topics
Seminal works
- csikszentmihalyi-1990
Frequently asked questions
- What is flow?
- A state of full, energized absorption in an activity, in which performance and enjoyment are heightened.