UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA (UNISA)
College of Human Sciences — Department of Psychology
⋄
Sport Psychology: Doping, Burnout,
Gender and Injury
Assignment 4 — 2026
⋄
Module Code: PYC4812
Module Name: Sport Psychology
Assignment No.: Assignment 4
Due Date: 22 August 2026
Semester: Semester 2, 2026
Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for PYC4812
at the University of South Africa.
,UNISA | PYC4812 Assignment 4: Sport Psychology
Introduction
Sport psychology examines the interaction between psychological processes, social envi-
ronments and athletic performance. Although sport is frequently associated with health,
achievement and personal development, competitive environments can also expose athletes
to substantial psychological and social pressures. Doping, burnout, gender regulation and
sports injuries illustrate different ways in which these pressures can affect athletes. Each
issue involves an interaction between individual characteristics and the sporting environment
rather than a single isolated cause.
Doping behaviour may emerge when athletes attempt to manage anxiety, self-doubt, perfec-
tionistic expectations or other psychological demands. Burnout similarly develops through
prolonged exposure to demands that exceed an athlete’s perceived resources. Questions
concerning gender and sexuality demonstrate that sporting participation is also shaped by
cultural assumptions about bodies, femininity, masculinity and sexuality. Finally, the stress
and injury model developed by Andersen and Williams and revised by Williams and Andersen
(1998) demonstrates how psychological stress can contribute to injury through cognitive and
physiological mechanisms.
Page 1 of 21
, UNISA | PYC4812 Assignment 4: Sport Psychology
Question 1: Psychological Causes of Doping Behaviour
Doping refers to the use of prohibited substances or methods to enhance athletic perfor-
mance. Anshel and Williams identify physical, psychological or emotional, and social causes
of drug use in sport. The psychological causes are particularly important because athletes
may use prohibited substances not simply to increase physical capacity, but also to man-
age uncomfortable emotional states and perceived performance inadequacies (Anshel and
Williams, 2021). Earlier interviews with elite athletes similarly identified fear of failure and low
self-confidence as important psychological reasons for considering performance-enhancing
drugs (Anshel, 1991).
1.1 Stress and Anxiety
Definition: Stress and anxiety refer to psychological states involving heightened tension,
worry, apprehension and concern about performance or its consequences. In competitive
sport, anxiety may arise from fear of failure, selection pressures, expectations from coaches
and teammates, or uncertainty about performance outcomes.
Athletes may perceive prohibited substances as a way of controlling unpleasant emotional
states or improving their ability to cope with pressure. Anshel and Williams (2021) identify
stress, tension and anxiety as psychological antecedents of drug use. The problem is that
doping transforms an emotional regulation problem into an ethical, medical and disciplinary
problem.
Practical example: A 400-metre runner who becomes extremely anxious before major com-
petitions may believe that a prohibited substance will help produce greater calmness, con-
fidence or emotional control. Rather than using relaxation, cognitive restructuring or other
psychological skills, the athlete may rely on the drug as a maladaptive coping mechanism.
The relationship between anxiety and doping should not, however, be interpreted as deter-
ministic. Most anxious athletes do not dope. The important issue is whether the athlete
interprets anxiety as intolerable and believes that prohibited substances offer an effective
solution.
Page 2 of 21
College of Human Sciences — Department of Psychology
⋄
Sport Psychology: Doping, Burnout,
Gender and Injury
Assignment 4 — 2026
⋄
Module Code: PYC4812
Module Name: Sport Psychology
Assignment No.: Assignment 4
Due Date: 22 August 2026
Semester: Semester 2, 2026
Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for PYC4812
at the University of South Africa.
,UNISA | PYC4812 Assignment 4: Sport Psychology
Introduction
Sport psychology examines the interaction between psychological processes, social envi-
ronments and athletic performance. Although sport is frequently associated with health,
achievement and personal development, competitive environments can also expose athletes
to substantial psychological and social pressures. Doping, burnout, gender regulation and
sports injuries illustrate different ways in which these pressures can affect athletes. Each
issue involves an interaction between individual characteristics and the sporting environment
rather than a single isolated cause.
Doping behaviour may emerge when athletes attempt to manage anxiety, self-doubt, perfec-
tionistic expectations or other psychological demands. Burnout similarly develops through
prolonged exposure to demands that exceed an athlete’s perceived resources. Questions
concerning gender and sexuality demonstrate that sporting participation is also shaped by
cultural assumptions about bodies, femininity, masculinity and sexuality. Finally, the stress
and injury model developed by Andersen and Williams and revised by Williams and Andersen
(1998) demonstrates how psychological stress can contribute to injury through cognitive and
physiological mechanisms.
Page 1 of 21
, UNISA | PYC4812 Assignment 4: Sport Psychology
Question 1: Psychological Causes of Doping Behaviour
Doping refers to the use of prohibited substances or methods to enhance athletic perfor-
mance. Anshel and Williams identify physical, psychological or emotional, and social causes
of drug use in sport. The psychological causes are particularly important because athletes
may use prohibited substances not simply to increase physical capacity, but also to man-
age uncomfortable emotional states and perceived performance inadequacies (Anshel and
Williams, 2021). Earlier interviews with elite athletes similarly identified fear of failure and low
self-confidence as important psychological reasons for considering performance-enhancing
drugs (Anshel, 1991).
1.1 Stress and Anxiety
Definition: Stress and anxiety refer to psychological states involving heightened tension,
worry, apprehension and concern about performance or its consequences. In competitive
sport, anxiety may arise from fear of failure, selection pressures, expectations from coaches
and teammates, or uncertainty about performance outcomes.
Athletes may perceive prohibited substances as a way of controlling unpleasant emotional
states or improving their ability to cope with pressure. Anshel and Williams (2021) identify
stress, tension and anxiety as psychological antecedents of drug use. The problem is that
doping transforms an emotional regulation problem into an ethical, medical and disciplinary
problem.
Practical example: A 400-metre runner who becomes extremely anxious before major com-
petitions may believe that a prohibited substance will help produce greater calmness, con-
fidence or emotional control. Rather than using relaxation, cognitive restructuring or other
psychological skills, the athlete may rely on the drug as a maladaptive coping mechanism.
The relationship between anxiety and doping should not, however, be interpreted as deter-
ministic. Most anxious athletes do not dope. The important issue is whether the athlete
interprets anxiety as intolerable and believes that prohibited substances offer an effective
solution.
Page 2 of 21
