Final answer:
Sport and Exercise Psychology examines how emotional and psychological factors impact sport and exercise performance. It incorporates motivation, mental wellbeing, and studies the effects of physical activity on mental health. Key areas include emotional influences on performance, the impact of exercise on stress, and the neurological aspects of sports.
Step-by-step explanation:
Sport and Exercise Psychology
When looking at Foundations of Sport and Exercise Psychology 7th edition, Chapter 18, we delve into the psychological aspects that influence and are influenced by physical activity, sports, and exercise. This field explores the emotional factors affecting physical performance and how sports and exercise can impact mental and emotional wellbeing. For instance, motivation, performance anxiety, and the social experiences influencing actions are key areas of focus. Researchers like Salmon (2001) provide insight into how exercise affects anxiety, depression, and stress sensitivity, supporting the unification of physical and mental health practices.
Additional topics may include how structuralism offers a framework for understanding conscious experiences, possibly through introspection, and the physiological needs driving behaviors. The relevance of this discipline extends beyond sports, encompassing activities that demand mental and physical coordination under stress such as military operations and surgery. Chapters in this field often discuss motivation, emotion, and various psychological facets critical in understanding human behavior in sports and exercise contexts.
The chapter sections such as 'Measuring Fitness', 'Some Muscular Chemistry', and 'Drugs, Athletic Performance, and the Brain' from later chapters provide more specialized insights into the biological and chemical underpinnings that relate to sports psychology.