AAU Sports Psychology & Mental Performance 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which breathing technique is commonly taught to athletes to reduce pre-competition somatic anxiety?
- Chest breathing
- Diaphragmatic breathing (Correct answer)
- Apneic breathing
- Paradoxical breathing
Correct answer: Diaphragmatic breathing
Diaphragmatic (deep belly) breathing activates the parasympathetic nervous system, reducing physical symptoms of anxiety such as elevated heart rate.
Question 2: An athlete who attributes a loss to 'bad luck' rather than effort is demonstrating which psychological concept?
- Positive self-talk
- External locus of control (Correct answer)
- Internal locus of control
- Self-determination
Correct answer: External locus of control
Attributing outcomes to external, uncontrollable factors like luck reflects an external locus of control, reducing the athlete's sense of personal agency.
Question 3: In sport psychology, 'choking' under pressure is most often associated with which phenomenon?
- Increased flow state
- Over-arousal and increased self-consciousness (Correct answer)
- Optimal arousal maintenance
- Reduced cognitive load
Correct answer: Over-arousal and increased self-consciousness
Choking occurs when excessive pressure causes over-arousal and heightened self-monitoring, disrupting automatic, well-learned performance.
Question 4: Which goal type focuses on an athlete's personal improvement and skill mastery rather than defeating others?
- Outcome goals
- Social comparison goals
- Process goals (Correct answer)
- Ego goals
Correct answer: Process goals
Process goals target specific actions and skills an athlete controls, promoting mastery and reducing anxiety compared to outcome-focused goals.
Question 5: A young AAU sprinter is experiencing burnout. Which factor is LEAST likely to contribute to athletic burnout?
- Overtraining
- High autonomy in training decisions (Correct answer)
- Lack of enjoyment
- Chronic stress
Correct answer: High autonomy in training decisions
High autonomy — where athletes have meaningful input in their training — is protective against burnout, not a contributing factor.
Question 6: Which motivational orientation is associated with participation in sport for the enjoyment and mastery of the activity itself?
- Extrinsic motivation
- Amotivation
- Intrinsic motivation (Correct answer)
- Identified regulation
Correct answer: Intrinsic motivation
Intrinsic motivation drives participation based on inherent enjoyment and personal satisfaction rather than external rewards.
Question 7: A coach uses a post-game meeting to focus on controllable performance factors rather than the final score. This approach best supports:
- Ego orientation
- External attribution
- Mastery climate (Correct answer)
- Outcome orientation
Correct answer: Mastery climate
A mastery (task) climate emphasizes personal improvement and effort over winning, fostering long-term motivation and resilience.
AAU Sports Psychology & Mental Performance 2
Which breathing technique is commonly taught to athletes to reduce pre-competition somatic anxiety?