Psychology and Mental Conditioning Flashcards

Which psychological concept refers to an athlete's belief in their ability to successfully execute a specific gymnastics skill?

Answer: Self-efficacy

Self-efficacy, as defined by Bandura, is task-specific confidence in one's ability to execute a particular skill, and is strongly linked to gymnastics performance.

According to the Yerkes-Dodson Law, optimal athletic performance occurs when arousal is:

Answer: At a moderate, task-appropriate level

The Yerkes-Dodson Law describes an inverted-U relationship: performance peaks at a moderate arousal level, declining when arousal is too low or too high.

A gymnastics coach who asks athletes to focus on precise body-position cues during a vault is assigning which type of goal?

Answer: Process goal

Process goals direct attention to specific execution steps (e.g., body position, timing), making them the most controllable and technique-focused goal type.

Which mental skill involves an athlete creating detailed, multi-sensory mental rehearsals of skills or routines before performing them?

Answer: Imagery/visualization

Imagery (visualization) uses multi-sensory mental rehearsal to strengthen neural pathways and build confidence, making it one of the most evidence-supported mental skills in gymnastics.

What is the primary psychological purpose of a gymnast's pre-competition routine?

Answer: To establish consistent psychological readiness and optimal arousal

Pre-competition routines create consistent psychological readiness by signaling the brain to enter a focused, optimal arousal state through familiar behavioral sequences.

Which technique involves an athlete using brief, positive internal statements such as 'strong and steady' to maintain focus during competition?

Answer: Positive self-talk

Positive self-talk uses brief instructional or motivational cue words to direct attention, regulate emotion, and maintain confidence during performance.

Cognitive appraisal theory suggests that a gymnast's stress response depends primarily on:

Answer: How they interpret the competitive situation as a threat or a challenge

Cognitive appraisal theory holds that the same competitive event can produce either anxiety or excitement depending on whether the gymnast perceives it as threatening or challenging.