, PLEASE USE THIS DOCUMENT AS A GUIDE ONLY
SECTION A
QUESTION 1
1. Doping behaviour refers to the use of illegal performance-enhancing drugs and methods to
improve performance (Anshel & Williams, 2021). Based on a review of the anecdotal and
scientific literature, the causes of doping lie within three categories. Define the psychological
causes of doping and provide a definition and practical example for each listed psychological
cause.
1. Stress and Anxiety
Definition: Athletes may use drugs, particularly recreational drugs or beta-blockers, as a coping
mechanism to manage the intense stress, tension, and anxiety associated with competitive sport.
The need to control these negative emotions can lead an athlete to seek artificial and illegal
means of relief (Anshel, 2021, p. 430).
Practical Example: A collegiate gymnast is experiencing overwhelming pressure before a
major competition and fears making a mistake that could cost her team the championship. To
manage this anxiety, she begins using a beta-blocker, which she knows is banned, because she
thinks it will help steady her nerves and reduce her physical symptoms of anxiety. She uses the
drug to artificially control her emotional state rather than learning and applying mental skills to
cope with the pressure.
2. Boredom
Definition: The use of recreational drugs can be a method to overcome feelings of boredom,
particularly during unstructured times, such as weekends, when teams are traveling, or when
there are no team-related activities planned (Anshel, 2021, p. 430).
Practical Example: A professional baseball player is on a long road trip and has a significant
amount of free time in the hotel after games and practices. Feeling isolated and bored with the
routine, he joins some teammates in smoking marijuana to pass the time and add excitement to
his evening, despite knowing it is against league rules and a banned substance.
3. Personal Problems
Definition: A variety of personal issues outside of sport, such as poor academic performance,
an unhappy home life, or a dysfunctional family situation, can lead an athlete to use drugs as a
way to cope or escape from reality. The drugs serve as a way to numb the pain or problems in
other areas of their life (Anshel, 2021, p. 430).
Practical Example: A star high school football player is struggling with his parents' recent
divorce and feels his home life is in turmoil. He is finding it difficult to concentrate on his
schoolwork and feels overwhelmed. To escape these feelings of sadness and instability, he
begins using painkillers (narcotic analgesics) recreationally, using the drug as a temporary
coping strategy to handle the personal problems he is facing outside of sport.
SECTION A
QUESTION 1
1. Doping behaviour refers to the use of illegal performance-enhancing drugs and methods to
improve performance (Anshel & Williams, 2021). Based on a review of the anecdotal and
scientific literature, the causes of doping lie within three categories. Define the psychological
causes of doping and provide a definition and practical example for each listed psychological
cause.
1. Stress and Anxiety
Definition: Athletes may use drugs, particularly recreational drugs or beta-blockers, as a coping
mechanism to manage the intense stress, tension, and anxiety associated with competitive sport.
The need to control these negative emotions can lead an athlete to seek artificial and illegal
means of relief (Anshel, 2021, p. 430).
Practical Example: A collegiate gymnast is experiencing overwhelming pressure before a
major competition and fears making a mistake that could cost her team the championship. To
manage this anxiety, she begins using a beta-blocker, which she knows is banned, because she
thinks it will help steady her nerves and reduce her physical symptoms of anxiety. She uses the
drug to artificially control her emotional state rather than learning and applying mental skills to
cope with the pressure.
2. Boredom
Definition: The use of recreational drugs can be a method to overcome feelings of boredom,
particularly during unstructured times, such as weekends, when teams are traveling, or when
there are no team-related activities planned (Anshel, 2021, p. 430).
Practical Example: A professional baseball player is on a long road trip and has a significant
amount of free time in the hotel after games and practices. Feeling isolated and bored with the
routine, he joins some teammates in smoking marijuana to pass the time and add excitement to
his evening, despite knowing it is against league rules and a banned substance.
3. Personal Problems
Definition: A variety of personal issues outside of sport, such as poor academic performance,
an unhappy home life, or a dysfunctional family situation, can lead an athlete to use drugs as a
way to cope or escape from reality. The drugs serve as a way to numb the pain or problems in
other areas of their life (Anshel, 2021, p. 430).
Practical Example: A star high school football player is struggling with his parents' recent
divorce and feels his home life is in turmoil. He is finding it difficult to concentrate on his
schoolwork and feels overwhelmed. To escape these feelings of sadness and instability, he
begins using painkillers (narcotic analgesics) recreationally, using the drug as a temporary
coping strategy to handle the personal problems he is facing outside of sport.
