ISSA Sports Psychology 3

Question 1

What is attentional focus in sports psychology?

Accepted Answer

The skill of directing awareness to relevant cues while ignoring distractions

Answer

Attentional focus is the ability to concentrate on task-relevant cues and block out distractions, a critical skill for peak athletic performance.

Question 2

According to attribution theory, how do athletes who attribute success to their own effort typically respond to failure?

Accepted Answer

They show greater persistence and increased motivation to improve

Answer

Athletes who make internal, controllable attributions (like effort) tend to show greater resilience and are more motivated to work harder after failure.

Question 3

Which relaxation technique involves systematically tensing and relaxing muscle groups to reduce physical stress and anxiety?

Accepted Answer

Progressive muscle relaxation

Answer

Progressive muscle relaxation (PMR), developed by Jacobson, involves tensing and then releasing muscle groups sequentially to reduce somatic anxiety.

Question 4

What does the term 'burnout' specifically refer to in athletic populations?

Accepted Answer

A state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion leading to sport withdrawal

Answer

Athletic burnout is a chronic stress syndrome characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and a reduced sense of accomplishment, often leading to dropout.

Question 5

A personal trainer wants to help a client build self-efficacy. Which strategy is MOST effective according to Bandura?

Accepted Answer

Creating progressive mastery experiences with manageable successes

Answer

Bandura identified mastery experiences as the most powerful source of self-efficacy, as successfully completing progressively challenging tasks builds genuine belief in one's capabilities.

ISSA - International Sports Sciences Association Practice Test

ISSA - International Sports Sciences Association Practice Test

ISSA Sports Psychology 3