Robert S. Weinberg, PhD, is a professor emeritus in the department of sport leadership and management at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. He has more than 40 years of experience in both the scholarly and applied aspects of sport psychology. He has written numerous research articles, including more than 175 refereed articles in scholarly journals, as well as books, book chapters, and applied articles for coaches, athletes, and exercisers.

Weinberg was voted one of the top 10 sport psychologists in North America by his peers. He is past president of the North American Society for Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity (NASPSPA) and of the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP). He is also a certified AASP consultant, consulting with athletes of all sports and ages.

Weinberg was named a Distinguished Scholar at Miami University in 2005. In addition, he was the editor of the Journal of Applied Sport Psychology and was voted Outstanding Faculty Member in the School of Education and Allied Professions at Miami University in 1998. In his leisure time, he enjoys playing tennis, traveling, and gardening.

Daniel Gould, PhD, is the former director of the Institute for the Study of Youth Sports and the emeritus Gwendolyn Norrell Professor of Youth Sport and Student Athlete Development in the department of kinesiology at Michigan State University. He has taught sport psychology for more than 40 years. An active researcher, Gould was the founding coeditor of The Sport Psychologist and has published more than 200 articles on sport psychology. He is best known for conducting applied research that links research and practice.

Gould was voted one of the top 10 sport psychology specialists in North America and is internationally known, having presented his work in more than 30 countries. When on the faculty of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, he received the university’s coveted Alumni Teaching Excellence Award, an all-campus teaching honor. He is certified as a consultant by the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP) and is a member of the United States Olympic Committee Sport Psychology Registry.

Gould is the former president of AASP and SHAPE America’s Sport Psychology Academy. In addition to teaching sport psychology, he is extensively involved in coaching education, from youth sports to Olympic competition. He also serves as a mental skills training consultant for professional, Olympic, and world-class athletes. In recent years he has served as an executive coach for business leaders interested in enhancing their organizations’ performance.

He lives in Okemos, Michigan, with his wife, Deb. He is a proud father of two sons, Kevin and Brian. In his leisure time, he enjoys swimming, doing fitness activities, and spending time with his family.

Part I. Beginning Your Journey

Chapter 1. Welcome to Sport and Exercise Psychology
Defining Sport and Exercise Psychology
Specializing in Sport and Exercise Psychology
Distinguishing Between Two Specialties
Reviewing the History of Sport and Exercise Psychology
Learning Aids

Chapter 2. Science and Professional Practice of Sport and Exercise Psychology
Bridging Science and Practice
Choosing From Many Sport and Exercise Psychology Orientations
Understanding Present and Future Trends
Learning Aids

Part II. Learning About Participants

Chapter 3. Personality and Sport
Defining Personality
Understanding Personality Structure
Studying Personality From Six Viewpoints
Measuring Personality
Using Psychological Measures
Focusing on Personality Research
Examining Cognitive Strategies and Success
Identifying Your Role in Understanding Personality
Learning Aids

Chapter 4. Motivation
Defining Motivation
Reviewing Three Approaches to Motivation
Building Motivation With Five Guidelines
Developing a Realistic View of Motivation
Understanding Achievement Motivation and Competitiveness
Identifying Four Theories of Achievement Motivation
Developing Achievement Motivation and Competitiveness
Using Achievement Motivation in Professional Practice
Learning Aids

Chapter 5. Arousal, Stress, and Anxiety
Defining Arousal and Anxiety
Measuring Arousal and Anxiety
Defining Stress and Understanding the Stress Process
Identifying Sources of Stress and Anxiety
Connecting Arousal and Anxiety to Performance
Applying Knowledge to Professional Practice
Learning Aids

Part III. Understanding Sport and Exercise Environments

Chapter 6. Competition and Cooperation
Defining Competition and Cooperation
Viewing Competition as a Process
Reviewing Studies of Competition and Cooperation
Determining Whether Competition Is Good or Bad
Enhancing Cooperation
Learning Aids

Chapter 7. Feedback, Reinforcement, and Intrinsic Motivation
Principles of Reinforcement
Approaches to Influencing Behavior
Guidelines for Using Positive Reinforcement
Guidelines for Using Punishment
Behavior Modification in Sport
Behavior Modification and Cognitive Behavior Therapy
Intrinsic Motivation and Extrinsic Rewards
Cognitive Evaluation Theory
How Extrinsic Rewards Affect Intrinsic Motivation in Sport
Strategies for Increasing Intrinsic Motivation
Flow—A Special Case of Intrinsic Motivation
Learning Aids

Chapter 8. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Definition of Culture, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Cultural Competence
Cultural Sport and Exercise Psychology Research
Benefits of Diversity and Inclusion
Strategies for Diversifying Sport and Physical Activity and Creating Inclusive Environments
Learning Aids

Part IV. Focusing on Group Processes

Chapter 9. Team Dynamics and Cohesion
Recognizing the Difference Between Groups and Teams
Identifying Three Theories of Group Development
Understanding Group Structure
Creating an Effective Team Climate
Maximizing Individual Performance in Team Sports
Definition of Cohesion
Conceptual Model of Cohesion
Tools for Measuring Cohesion
Relationship Between Cohesion and Performance
Other Factors Associated With Cohesion
Strategies for Enhancing Cohesion
Guidelines for Building Team Cohesion
Learning Aids

Chapter 10. Leadership
Definition of Leadership
Approaches to Studying Leadership
Sport-Oriented Interactional Approaches to Leadership
Research on the Multidimensional Model of Sport Leadership
Leadership Training Interventions
Four Components of Effective Leadership
The Art of Leadership
Learning Aids

Chapter 11. Communication
Understanding the Communication Process
Sending Messages Effectively
Receiving Messages Effectively
Recognizing Breakdowns in Communication
Improving Communication
Dealing With Confrontation and Conflict
Delivering Constructive Criticism
Learning Aids

Part V. Improving Performance

Chapter 12. Introduction to Psychological Skills Training
What Psychological Skills Training Entails
Why PST Is Important
Why Sport and Exercise Participants Neglect PST
Myths About PST
PST Knowledge Base
PST Effectiveness
Three Phases of PST Programs
Self-Regulation: The Ultimate Goal of PST
Who Should Conduct PST Programs
When to Implement a PST Program
PST Program Development
Common Problems in Implementing PST Programs
Learning Aids

Chapter 13. Arousal Regulation
Increasing Self-Awareness of Arousal
Using Anxiety Reduction Techniques
Exploring the Matching Hypothesis
Coping With Adversity
Using Arousal-Inducing Techniques
Learning Aids

Chapter 14. Imagery
Defining Imagery
Uses of Imagery
Evidence of Imagery’s Effectiveness
Imagery in Sport: Where, When, Why, and What
Factors Affecting the Effectiveness of Imagery
How Imagery Works
Keys to Effective Imagery
How to Develop an Imagery Training Program
When to Use Imagery
Learning Aids

Chapter 15. Self-Confidence
Defining Self-Confidence
Understanding How Expectations Influence Performance
Examining Self-Efficacy Theory
Assessing Self-Confidence
Building Self-Confidence
Learning Aids

Chapter 16. Goal Setting
Definition of Goals
Effectiveness of Goal Setting
Principles of Goal Setting
Development of Group Goals
Design of a Goal-Setting System
Common Problems in Goal Setting
Learning Aids

Chapter 17. Concentration
Defining Concentration
Explaining Attentional Focus: Three Processes
Connecting Concentration to Optimal Performance
Identifying Types of Attentional Focus
Recognizing Attentional Problems
Mindfulness
Using Self-Talk to Enhance Concentration
Assessing Attentional Skills
Improving Concentration
Learning Aids

Part VI. Enhancing Health and Well-Being

Chapter 18. Exercise and Psychological Well-Being
Mental Health
Reducing Anxiety and Depression With Exercise
Understanding the Effect of Exercise on Psychological Well-Being
Changing Personality and Cognitive Functioning With Exercise
Enhancing Quality of Life With Exercise
Examining the Runner’s High
Using Exercise as an Adjunct to Therapy
Learning Aids

Chapter 19. Exercise Behavior and Adherence
Reasons to Exercise
Reasons for Not Exercising
Problem of Exercise Adherence
Theories and Models of Exercise Behavior
Determinants of Exercise Adherence
Settings for Exercise Interventions
Strategies for Enhancing Adherence to Exercise
Guidelines for Improving Exercise Adherence
Learning Aids

Chapter 20. Athletic Injuries and Psychology
What Is Injury?
Causes and Predictors of Injury
Relationship Between Stress and Injury
Other Psychologically Based Explanations for Injury
Psychological Reactions to Exercise and Athletic Injuries
Role of Sport Psychology in Injury Rehabilitation
Identify Athletes and Exercisers Who Are at Risk for Injury
Learning Aids

Chapter 21. Addictive and Unhealthy Behaviors
Eating Disorders
Substance Abuse
Addiction to Exercise
Compulsive Gambling
Learning Aids

Chapter 22. Burnout and Overtraining
Definitions of Overtraining, Staleness, and Burnout
Frequency of Overtraining, Staleness, and Burnout
Models of Burnout
Factors Leading to Athlete Overtraining and Burnout
Symptoms of Overtraining and Burnout
Ways to Measure Burnout
Burnout in Sport Professionals
Treatment and Prevention of Overtraining and Burnout
Learning Aids

Part VII. Facilitating Psychological Growth and Development

Chapter 23. Children and Sport Psychology
Importance of Studying the Psychology of Young Athletes
Understanding the Youth Sports System
Children’s Reasons for Participation and Nonparticipation
Role of Friends in Youth Sport
Stress and Burnout in Children’s Competitive Sport
Effective Coaching Practices for Young Athletes
Role of Parents
The Professionalization of Children’s Sports
Learning Aids

Chapter 24. Aggression in Sport
Defining Aggression
Understanding the Causes of Aggression
Examining Aggression in Sport
Applying Knowledge to Professional Practice
Learning Aids

Chapter 25. Character Development and Good Sporting Behavior
Defining Character, Fair Play, and Good Sporting Behavior
Developing Character and Good Sporting Behavior
Examining Moral Development Research
Understanding the Connection Between Moral Reasoning and Moral Behavior
Hazing, Bullying, and Abusive Behavior in Sport
Studying the Connection Between Character Development and Physical Activity
Guiding Practice in Character Development
Learning Aids