A Level PE - Sport Psychology
Questions and Answers | Latest
Version | 2025/2026 | Correct & Verified
What does sport psychology mainly study?
✔✔How psychological factors affect performance and participation in sport
What is motivation in sport?
✔✔The drive that encourages athletes to train and perform
What is intrinsic motivation?
✔✔Motivation that comes from enjoyment and internal satisfaction
What is extrinsic motivation?
✔✔Motivation driven by external rewards or recognition
What is arousal in sport psychology?
✔✔The level of physical and mental alertness
What does the inverted-U theory explain?
✔✔The relationship between arousal and performance
What happens when arousal is too low?
1
,✔✔Performance may be poor due to lack of focus
What happens when arousal is too high?
✔✔Performance may decline due to anxiety
What is anxiety in sport?
✔✔A feeling of worry or nervousness related to performance
What is cognitive anxiety?
✔✔Mental worry and negative thoughts before or during performance
What is somatic anxiety?
✔✔Physical symptoms such as increased heart rate or sweating
What is trait anxiety?
✔✔A stable tendency to perceive situations as threatening
What is state anxiety?
✔✔Temporary anxiety felt in a specific situation
What is confidence in sport?
✔✔Belief in one’s ability to succeed
2
,How does high confidence affect performance?
✔✔It increases effort and persistence
What is self-efficacy?
✔✔Belief in the ability to complete a specific task
What psychological skill involves imagining success?
✔✔Visualization or imagery
What is imagery in sport psychology?
✔✔Mentally rehearsing skills or performance
Why do athletes use imagery?
✔✔To improve confidence and technique
What is goal setting?
✔✔Setting targets to guide training and performance
What is a short-term goal?
✔✔A goal set for immediate or near-future achievement
3
, What is a long-term goal?
✔✔A goal set for achievement over an extended period
What does SMART stand for in goal setting?
✔✔Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Time-bound
What is concentration in sport?
✔✔The ability to focus on relevant cues
What can cause loss of concentration?
✔✔Distractions or anxiety
What is attention in sport psychology?
✔✔The ability to selectively focus on information
What is selective attention?
✔✔Focusing on relevant cues and ignoring distractions
What is stress in sport?
✔✔A response to perceived pressure or demands
What is the fight-or-flight response?
4
Questions and Answers | Latest
Version | 2025/2026 | Correct & Verified
What does sport psychology mainly study?
✔✔How psychological factors affect performance and participation in sport
What is motivation in sport?
✔✔The drive that encourages athletes to train and perform
What is intrinsic motivation?
✔✔Motivation that comes from enjoyment and internal satisfaction
What is extrinsic motivation?
✔✔Motivation driven by external rewards or recognition
What is arousal in sport psychology?
✔✔The level of physical and mental alertness
What does the inverted-U theory explain?
✔✔The relationship between arousal and performance
What happens when arousal is too low?
1
,✔✔Performance may be poor due to lack of focus
What happens when arousal is too high?
✔✔Performance may decline due to anxiety
What is anxiety in sport?
✔✔A feeling of worry or nervousness related to performance
What is cognitive anxiety?
✔✔Mental worry and negative thoughts before or during performance
What is somatic anxiety?
✔✔Physical symptoms such as increased heart rate or sweating
What is trait anxiety?
✔✔A stable tendency to perceive situations as threatening
What is state anxiety?
✔✔Temporary anxiety felt in a specific situation
What is confidence in sport?
✔✔Belief in one’s ability to succeed
2
,How does high confidence affect performance?
✔✔It increases effort and persistence
What is self-efficacy?
✔✔Belief in the ability to complete a specific task
What psychological skill involves imagining success?
✔✔Visualization or imagery
What is imagery in sport psychology?
✔✔Mentally rehearsing skills or performance
Why do athletes use imagery?
✔✔To improve confidence and technique
What is goal setting?
✔✔Setting targets to guide training and performance
What is a short-term goal?
✔✔A goal set for immediate or near-future achievement
3
, What is a long-term goal?
✔✔A goal set for achievement over an extended period
What does SMART stand for in goal setting?
✔✔Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Time-bound
What is concentration in sport?
✔✔The ability to focus on relevant cues
What can cause loss of concentration?
✔✔Distractions or anxiety
What is attention in sport psychology?
✔✔The ability to selectively focus on information
What is selective attention?
✔✔Focusing on relevant cues and ignoring distractions
What is stress in sport?
✔✔A response to perceived pressure or demands
What is the fight-or-flight response?
4
