Possible Essay question for exams on PYC4812
Qs: Describe self-efficacy and its determinants:
Ans: Self-efficacy is the belief that one is capable of successful behaviour, it conceptualises
a belief in personal capabilities to organise and execute the courses of action required to
attain a behavioural goal like perceived behavioural control.
Both perceived behavioural central and self-efficacy are distinguishable from outcome
expectancy which is the perceived likelihood that performing a behaviour will result in a
specific outcome. Also, self-efficacy is proposed self-change and operates through self-
initiated reactions, for instance; maintaining exercise when you are dissatisfied with your
current fitness then adopting challenging goals because you are confident that you can attain
the goal of being better in sport.
Self-efficacy is also a mediator of behaviour change, there’s evidence in a study that shows
that exercise self-efficacy increases as one moves from an established sedentary lifestyle to
long-term maintenance of regular exercise.
Self-efficacy and its determinants:
Performance accomplishments: Performance accomplishments, refers to mastering a
difficult or previously feared task and are the most potent strategy for increasing self-
efficacy.
Vicarious experiences: Refer to experiences enabling learning via observation of the success
experienced by others. Modelling is an effective strategy if the model is similar to the
participant and the model succeeds through effort with clear rewarding outcomes.
Verbal persuasion: Entails encouragement or support to reinforce progress toward reaching
the target behaviour and fosters the attribution of accomplishment to the person’s own
behaviour.
, Physiological and psychological states:
Unpleasant physiological responses to exercising might initially undermine confidence in a
sedentary unfit person just starting an exercise program, because high arousal impairs
performance and decreases efficacy expectations, understanding that heavy breathing,
increased heart rate, fatigue and muscle discomfort are normal responses to exercise and can
also manage psychological arousal during exercise.
Teaching individuals to reframe physical symptoms in a positive interpretation and noticing
positive psychological states with exercise (e.g. increased energy resulting to lower stress)
can foster immediate confidence in the person’s ability to complete a physical activity task.
Performance feedback:
Refers to providing knowledge of results and reinforcement. Also, performance feedback has
not only motivational but also instructional effects as follows:
(a) Specific behaviours that should be performed
(b) Levels of proficiency that should be achieved in each of the skills;
(c) The athlete’s current level of proficiency, these instructions can be of benefit to the
athlete’s performance and lead to obtaining self-efficacy.
Qs: Explain the importance of goal-setting in sports psychology, mention different types of
goals and indicate their relevance in a sport psychology context. Then briefly describe two
theories of goal setting in sport psychology
Ans: Importance of goal-setting in sport psychology:
Goals direct the performer’s attention and action to important aspects of the task;
Goals help the performer mobilise effort; they increase immediate effort but also help
prolong effort or increase persistence. Also, goals facilitate performance, facilitate desirable
behaviours and performance, also goals improve performance and they are effective in
enhancing, endurance task performance in groups. Finally, research has shown that
Qs: Describe self-efficacy and its determinants:
Ans: Self-efficacy is the belief that one is capable of successful behaviour, it conceptualises
a belief in personal capabilities to organise and execute the courses of action required to
attain a behavioural goal like perceived behavioural control.
Both perceived behavioural central and self-efficacy are distinguishable from outcome
expectancy which is the perceived likelihood that performing a behaviour will result in a
specific outcome. Also, self-efficacy is proposed self-change and operates through self-
initiated reactions, for instance; maintaining exercise when you are dissatisfied with your
current fitness then adopting challenging goals because you are confident that you can attain
the goal of being better in sport.
Self-efficacy is also a mediator of behaviour change, there’s evidence in a study that shows
that exercise self-efficacy increases as one moves from an established sedentary lifestyle to
long-term maintenance of regular exercise.
Self-efficacy and its determinants:
Performance accomplishments: Performance accomplishments, refers to mastering a
difficult or previously feared task and are the most potent strategy for increasing self-
efficacy.
Vicarious experiences: Refer to experiences enabling learning via observation of the success
experienced by others. Modelling is an effective strategy if the model is similar to the
participant and the model succeeds through effort with clear rewarding outcomes.
Verbal persuasion: Entails encouragement or support to reinforce progress toward reaching
the target behaviour and fosters the attribution of accomplishment to the person’s own
behaviour.
, Physiological and psychological states:
Unpleasant physiological responses to exercising might initially undermine confidence in a
sedentary unfit person just starting an exercise program, because high arousal impairs
performance and decreases efficacy expectations, understanding that heavy breathing,
increased heart rate, fatigue and muscle discomfort are normal responses to exercise and can
also manage psychological arousal during exercise.
Teaching individuals to reframe physical symptoms in a positive interpretation and noticing
positive psychological states with exercise (e.g. increased energy resulting to lower stress)
can foster immediate confidence in the person’s ability to complete a physical activity task.
Performance feedback:
Refers to providing knowledge of results and reinforcement. Also, performance feedback has
not only motivational but also instructional effects as follows:
(a) Specific behaviours that should be performed
(b) Levels of proficiency that should be achieved in each of the skills;
(c) The athlete’s current level of proficiency, these instructions can be of benefit to the
athlete’s performance and lead to obtaining self-efficacy.
Qs: Explain the importance of goal-setting in sports psychology, mention different types of
goals and indicate their relevance in a sport psychology context. Then briefly describe two
theories of goal setting in sport psychology
Ans: Importance of goal-setting in sport psychology:
Goals direct the performer’s attention and action to important aspects of the task;
Goals help the performer mobilise effort; they increase immediate effort but also help
prolong effort or increase persistence. Also, goals facilitate performance, facilitate desirable
behaviours and performance, also goals improve performance and they are effective in
enhancing, endurance task performance in groups. Finally, research has shown that
