A Critical Introduction to Sport Psychology: A Critical Introduction / Edition 3

by Aidan Moran, John Toner

Overview

The new third edition of A Critical Introduction to Sport Psychology is the only textbook in the field that provides a detailed overview of key theories, concepts and findings within the discipline of sport psychology, as well as a critical perspective that examines and challenges these core foundations.

Fully revised and updated, the new edition covers key research findings affecting both participation and performance in sport, including topics such as motivation, anxiety, emotional coping, concentration, mental imagery, expertise and team cohesion. In addition, the book includes a range of helpful features that bring the science to life, including critical thinking exercises, suggestions for student projects and new "In the spotlight" boxes that highlight key advances in theory or practice. A comprehensive glossary is also included, whilst a final chapter examines some new horizons in sport psychology, including embodied cognition and socio-cultural perspectives.

Sport is played with the body but often won in the mind; that is the theory. A Critical Introduction to Sport Psychology is the definitive textbook for anyone wishing to engage critically with this fascinating idea.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781138999978
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	02/24/2017
Edition description:	Revised
Pages:	494
Product dimensions:	6.88(w) x 9.69(h) x (d)

About the Author

Aidan Moran is Professor of Cognitive Psychology and Director of the Psychology Research Laboratory in University College Dublin, Ireland. A Fulbright Scholar, he has written sixteen books and many scientific papers on cognitive processes such as mental imagery and attention (including eye-tracking) in athletes. He is the Founding Editor-in-Chief of the International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology, has advised many of Ireland’s leading professional athletes and teams and is a former psychologist to the Irish Olympic Squad.

John Toner is a lecturer in sports coaching and performance in the Department of Sport, Health, and Exercise Science at the University of Hull, UK. His research and teaching interests include skill acquisition, expertise in sports performance and pedagogy in sports coaching.

Table of Contents

Preface Acknowledgements Introduction 1. Introducing sport psychology: discipline and profession Part 1: Exploring athletic performance: key constructs 2. Motivation and goal-setting in sport 3. "Psyching up" and calming down: anxiety in sport 4. Emotions and coping 5. Staying focused in sport: concentration in sport performers 6. Using imagination in sport: mental imagery, motor imagery and mental practice in athletes 7. What lies beneath the surface? Investigating expertise in sport Part 2: Team cohesion 8. Exploring team cohesion in sport: a critical perspective Part 3: New directions in sport psychology 9. New horizons: embodied cognition and cultural sport psychology Glossary References Author index Subject index

Editorial Reviews

"Full of quotes and insight, this wide ranging, in depth, up-to-date introduction to sport psychology covers topics in emotional coping, team cohesion, motivation, expertise and more. Academics and students alike will enjoy the read, as did I. Moran and Toner (3rd edition) is definitely recommended reading." - Rich Masters, Professor of Human Performance Psychology, The University of Waikato, New Zealand

"This third edition is the most modern and engaging sport psychology textbook in the field. Contemporary, provocative, informative and accessible, the chapters provide a comprehensive overview of this rapidly developing field while the various pedagogical features are a boon for understanding . . .This is an important book in sport psychology which provides outstanding quality and clarity in both the applied and research areas." - Shane M. Murphy, Professor and Chair of Psychology, Western Connecticut State University, USA

From the Publisher