CBSE Book Class 12 Psychology Application of Psychology

Unit 9 Application of Psychology

9.1 Sports

Importance of Sports

The importance of sports and exercise in contributing to the physical growth, mental health, and overall well-being of children is well recognized. Parents encourage children to play and engage in a variety of sports activities. Physical education and sports also form an integral part of the school’s curriculum. The theory of multiple intelligences recognizes sports and athletics too as a form of intelligence that is no way lesser in importance than academics. In this context, sports psychology is emerging as an upcoming field dealing with psychological and emotional factors affecting sport performance.

The significance of sports for the holistic development of children and adolescents is increasingly recognized. In particular, it facilitates physical growth and psychomotor coordination. This process continues during later childhood with more formal games and sports like badminton, table tennis, aerobic exercises and team games. Sports helps improving health and raising energy level as the physical exercise is accompanied by changes in breathing and heart rate whereby oxygen supply to all parts of the body is improved. Sweating occurs which helps remove toxins from the body. Appetite is also improved.

Sports , Social Development, and Acquisition of Values

While playing games in an informal setting like the neighborhood park or the ‘street’ or while playing in a more formal school setting, children learn to follow rules and procedures as well as to develop team spirit. While playing in a group or team, each player has specific roles which are assigned according to the relative strengths and weaknesses of each individual. In this setting, they learn to adhere to the rules, to adjust their behaviour in accordance with requirements of the group, to cooperate with the team for attainment of the goal, and to develop team spirit. Discipline is inculcated in the process of playing the rules of the game. 

Members of the team realize the importance of being in time for practice sessions and thus the value of punctuality is acquired. Physical fitness is an essential requirement for selection in a team – so individual players learn the importance of exercise and balanced diet. The goals of the group become the goals of the individuals comprising the team and thus members learn the value of cooperation. Since each team is playing against another opposing team, a healthy competitive spirit is developed. Sports also contributes to development of ‘sportsman spirit’ wherein stress is laid on following the rules of the game and playing to the best of one’s ability regardless of the final outcome – success and failure are both taken in their stride.

Sports, Emotional Well-being and Personality

`Engaging in sports implies high levels of physical activity which can have important cathartic effect on a person i.e. by releasing bottled up energy arising from conflicts, anger and frustration. Certain neurotransmitters are released which create an overall feeling of well-being in the person. And improved blood supply, especially to the brain, improves capacity for mental work, and may be associated with higher levels persistence in activities.

These are important reasons for incorporating games, sports and aerobic exercises into the daily regimen of all persons, of all age groups.

Psychological Factors and Performance

With the rising popularity of sports and sports tournaments, there is an increased interest in the application of psychological principles to enhance performance of sportspersons. Psychologists have studied the factors affecting sports performance. It is recognized that sports performance is a result of interaction of several factors: the personality of the athlete, the environment, and the characteristics of the coach and techniques of training.

The Athlete: The main characteristics of athletes which have a bearing on performance include the following: Self-confidence and self-esteem, Ways of coping with anxiety, stress and failure, Awareness of and use of mental strategies, Personality attributes Downloaded from www.studiestoday.com

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