Abstract
The term behavior analysis refers to the scientific study of laws that govern the behavior of human beings and other animals (Pear, 2001). Behavioral sport psychology involves the use of behavior analysis principles and techniques to enhance the performance and satisfaction of athletes and others associated with sports (Martin & Tkachuk, 2000). In this chapter, we trace the early development of the field, highlight five characteristics that tend to be evident in research and current practice in behavioral sport psychology, and summarize nine major areas of application in this field to date.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Allen, K. D. (1998). The use of an enhanced simplified habit-reversal procedure to reduce disruptive outbursts during athletic performance. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 31, 489–492.
Allison, M. G., & Ayllon, T. (1980). Behavioral coaching in the development of skills in football, gymnastics, and tennis. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 13, 297–314.
Anderson, G., & Kirkpatrick, M. A. (2002). Variable effects of a behavioral treatment package on the performance of inline roller speed skaters. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 35, 195–198.
Bell, K. F. (1983). Championship thinking: The athlete’s guide to winning performance in all sports. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
Brunelle, J. P., Janelle, C. M., & Tennant, L. K. (1999). Controlling competitive anger among male soccer players. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 11, 283–297.
Buzas, H. P., & Ayllon, T. (1981). Differential reinforcement in coaching tennis skills. Behavior Modification, 5, 372–385.
Connelly, D. (1988). Increasing intensity of play of nonassertive athletes. The Sport Psychologist, 2, 255–265.
Critchfield, T. S., & Vargas, E. A. (1991). Self-recording, instructions, and public self-graphing: Effects on swimming in the absence of coach verbal interaction. Behavior Modification, 15, 95–112.
Desiderato, O., & Miller, I. B. (1979). Improving tennis performance by cognitive behavior and modification techniques. In G. L. Martin & D. Hrycaiko (Eds.), Behavior modification and coaching: Principle, procedures, and research (pp. 293–295). Springfield, IL: C.C. Thomas.
Dickinson, J. (1977). A behavior analysis of sport. Princeton, NJ: Princeton Book Company.
Donohue, B., Miller, A., Crammer, L., Cross, C., & Covassin, T. (2007). A standardized method of assessing sport specific problems in the relationships of athletes with their coaches, teammates, family, and peers. Journal of Sport Behavior, 30, 375–397.
Galvan, Z. J., & Ward, P. (1998). Effects of public posting on inappropriate on-court behaviors by collegiate tennis players. The Sport Psychologist, 12, 419–426.
Goldberg, A. S. (1998). Sport slump busting. Champagne, IL: Human Kinetics.
Gravel, R., Lemieux, G., & Ladouceur, R. (1980). Effectiveness of a cognitive behavioral treatment package for cross-country ski racers. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 4, 83–89.
Hazen, A., Johnstone, C., Martin, G. L., & Skrikameswaran, S. (1990). A videotaping feedback package for improving skills of youth competitive swimmers. The Sport Psychologist, 4, 213–227.
Hrycaiko, D., & Martin, G. L. (1996). Applied research studies with single-subject designs: Why so few? Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 8, 183–199.
Hume, K. M., & Crossman, J. (1992). Musical reinforcement of practice behaviors among competitive swimmers. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 25, 665–670.
Hume, K. M., Martin, G. L., Gonzalez, P., Cracklen, C., & Genthon, S. (1985). A self-monitoring feedback package for improving freestyle figure skating practice. Journal of Sport Psychology, 7, 333–345.
Jones, C. (1993). The role of performance profiling in cognitive behavioral interventions in sport. The Sport Psychologist, 7, 160–172.
Kirchenbaum, D. S., Ordman, A. M., Tomarken, A. J., & Holtzbauer, R. (1982). Effects of differential self-monitoring and level of mastery of sports performance: Brain, power bowling. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 6, 335–342.
Kladopoulos, C. N., & McComas, J. J. (2001). The effects of form training on foul-shooting performance in members of a women’s college basketball team. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 34, 329–332.
Komaki, J., & Barnett, F. T. (1977). A behavioral approach to coaching football: Improving the play execution of the offensive backfield on a youth football team. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 10, 657–664.
Koop, S., & Martin, G. L. (1983). Evaluation of a coaching strategy to reduce swimming stroke errors in beginning age-group swimmers. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 16, 447–460.
Krane, V., & Williams, J. M. (2010). Psychological characteristics of peak performance. In J. M. Williams (Ed.), Applied sport psychology: Personal growth and peak performance (6th ed., pp. 169–188). New York: McGraw Hill.
Landers, D. M., & Arent, S. M. (2010). Arousal-performance relationships. In J. M. Williams (Ed.), Applied sport psychology: Personal growth to peak performance (6th ed., pp. 221–246). New York: McGraw Hill.
Landin, D., & Hebert, E. P. (1999). The influence of self-talk on the performance of skilled female tennis players. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 11, 263–282.
Leslie-Toogood, A., & Martin, G. (2003). Do coaches know the mental skills of their athletes? Assessments from volleyball and track. Journal of Sport Behavior, 26, 56–69.
Lines, J. B., Schwartzman, L., Tkachuk, G. A., Leslie-Toogood, S. A., & Martin, G. L. (1999). Behavioral assessment in sport psychology consulting: Applications to swimming and basketball. Journal of Sport Behavior, 22, 558–569.
Mahoney, M. J., Gabriel, P. J., & Perkins, T. S. I. (1987). Psychological skills and exceptional athletic performance. The Sport Psychologist, 1, 181–199.
Malott, R. W., & Whaley, D. L. (1983). Psychology. Holmes Beach, FL: Learning Publications.
Martin, G. L. (2010). A sport psychology manual for hockey players. Winnipeg, MB: Sport Science Press.
Martin, G. L. (2011). Applied sport psychology: Practical guidelines from behavior analysis (4th ed.). Winnipeg, MB: Sport Science Press.
Martin, G. L., & Hrycaiko, D. (1983). Effective behavioral coaching: What’s it all about? Journal of Sport Psychology, 5, 8–20.
Martin, G. L., & Ingram, D. (2001). Play golf in the zone: The psychology of golf made easy. San Francisco: Van der Plas Publications.
Martin, G. L., & Martin, T. (2006). Curl in the zone: The psychology of curling made easy. Winnipeg, MB: Sport Science Press.
Martin, G. L., & Pear, J. J. (2011). Behavior modification: What it is and how to do it (9th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson-Prentice Hall.
Martin, G. L., Thompson, K., & Regehr, K. (2004). Studies using single-subject designs in sport psychology: 30 years of research. The Behavior Analyst, 27, 123–140.
Martin, G. L., & Thomson, K. (2010). A sport psychology self-instructional manual for figure skaters. Winnipeg, MB: Sport Science Press.
Martin, G. L., & Tkachuk, G. A. (2000). Behavioral sport psychology. In J. Austin & J. E. Carr (Eds.), Behavioral sport psychology: Handbook of applied behavior analysis (pp. 399–422). Reno, NV: Context Press.
Martin, G. L., & Toogood, A. (1997). Cognitive and behavioral components of a seasonal psychological skills training program for competitive figure skaters. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, 4, 383–404.
Martin, G. L., Toogood, A., & Tkachuk, G. A. (1997). Behavioral assessment forms for sport psychology consulting. Winnipeg, MB: Sport Science Press.
McKenzie, T. L., & Liskevych, T. N. (1983). Using the multi-element baseline design to examine motivation in volleyball training. In G. L. Martin & D. Hrycaiko (Eds.), Behavior modification and coaching: Principles, procedures, and research (pp. 187–202). Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas.
McKenzie, T. L., & Rushall, B. S. (1974). Effects of self-recording on attendance and performance in a competitive swimming training environment. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 7, 199–206.
Ming, S., & Martin, G. L. (1996). Single-subject evaluation of a self-talk package for improving figure skating performance. The Sport Psychologist, 10, 227–238.
Nelson, R. O. (1983). Behavioral assessment: Past, present, and future. Behavioral Assessment, 5, 195–206.
Nelson, R. O., & Hayes, S. C. (1979). Some current dimensions of behavioral assessment. Behavioral Assessment, 1, 1–16.
Nicklaus, J. (1974). Golf my way. New York: Simon & Schuster.
Nideffer, R. M. (1976). The inner athlete: Mind plus muscle for running. New York: Crowell.
Nideffer, R. M., & Sagal, M. (2006). Concentration and attention control training. In J. M. Williams (Ed.), Applied sport psychology: Personal growth to peak performance (5th ed., pp. 382–403). New York: McGraw-Hill.
Orlick, T. (1980). In pursuit of excellence. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics Publishers.
Orlick, T. (1986). Psyching for sport: Mental training for athletes. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics Publishers.
Orlick, T. (1989). Reflections on sport psych consulting with individual and team sport athletes at summer and Olympic winter games. The Sport Psychologist, 1, 4–17.
Orlick, T. (1996). The wheel of excellence. Journal of Performance Education, 1, 3–18.
Orlick, T. (2008). In pursuit of excellence (4th ed.). Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
Orlick, T., & Partington, J. (1988). Mental links to excellence. The Sport Psychologist, 2, 105–130.
Pear, J. J. (2001). The science of learning. Philadelphia: Psychology Press.
Rush, D. B., & Ayllon, T. (1984). Peer behavioral coaching: Soccer. Journal of Sport Psychology, 6, 325–334.
Rushall, B. S. (1979). Psyching in sport: The psychological preparation for serious competition in sport. London: Pelham Books.
Rushall, B. S. (1992). Mental skills training for sports: A manual for athletes, coaches, and sport psychologists. Spring Valley, CA: Sport Science Associates.
Rushall, B. S., & Pettinger, J. (1969). An evaluation of the effects of various reinforcers used as motivators in swimming. Research Quarterly, 40, 540–545.
Rushall, B. S., & Siedentop, D. (1972). The development and control of behavior in sport and physical education. Philadelphia: Lea & Febiger.
Rushall, B. S., & Smith, K. C. (1979). Coaching effectiveness of the quality and quantity of behavior categories in a swimming coach. Journal of Sport Psychology, 1, 138–150.
Scott, D., & Scott, L. M. (1997). A performance improvement program for an international-level track and field athlete. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 30, 573–575.
Scott, L. M., Scott, D., Bedic, S. P., & Dowd, J. (1999). The effects of associative and dissociative strategies on rowing ergometer performance. The Sport Psychologist, 13, 57–68.
Silva, J. M., III (1982). Competitive sport environments: Performance enhancement through cognitive intervention. Behavior Modification, 6, 443–463.
Simek, T. C., & O’Brien, R. M. (1981). Total golf: A behavioral approach to lowering your score and getting more out of your game. New York: Doubleday (Now available from B-Mod Associates, Suite 109, 4230 W. Hempstead Turnpike, Bethpage NY 11714).
Skinner, B. F. (1953). Science and human behavior. New York: McMillan.
Smith, R. E., & Little, L. M. (1998). A review of behavioral assessment forms for sport psychology consulting. The Sport Psychologist, 12, 104–105.
Smith, R. E., Schutz, R. W., Smoll, F. L., & Ptacek, J. T. (1995). Development and validation of a multi-dimensional measure of sport-specific psychological skills: The athletic coping skills inventory-28. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 17, 379–398.
Smith, R. E., Smoll, F. L., & Christensen, D. S. (1996). Behavioral assessment and intervention in youth sports. Behavior Modification, 20, 3–44.
Smith, R. E., Smoll, F. L., & Curtis, B. (1979). Coach effectiveness training: A cognitive-behavioral approach to enhancing relationship skills in youth coaches. Journal of Sport Psychology, 1, 59–75.
Smoll, F. L., & Smith, R. E. (2010). Conducting psychologically oriented coach-training programs: A social-cognitive approach. In J. M. Williams (Ed.), Applied sport psychology: Personal growth to peak performance (6th ed., pp. 417–440). New York: McGraw-Hill.
Smoll, F. L., Smith, R. E., & Curtis, B. (1978). Behavioral guidelines for youth sport coaches. Journal of Physical Education and Recreation, 49, 46–47.
Swain, A., & Jones, G. (1995). Effects of goal-setting interventions on selected basketball skills: A single-subject design. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 66, 51–63.
Taylor, J., & Taylor, C. (1995). Psychology of dance. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics Publishers.
Thelwell, R. C., & Greenlees, I. A. (2003). Developing competitive endurance performance using mental skills training. The Sport Psychologist, 17, 318.
Tkachuk, G., Leslie-Toogood, A., & Martin, G. L. (2003). Behavioral assessment in sport psychology. The Sport Psychologist, 17, 104–117.
Tutko, T., & Umberto, T. (1976). Sports psyching: Playing your best game all the time. Los Angeles: J. D. Tarcher, Inc.
Vealey, R. S., & Greenleaf, C. A. (2010). Seeing is believing: Understanding and using imagery in sport. In J. M. Williams (Ed.), Applied sport psychology: Personal growth to peak performance (6th ed., pp. 267–304). New York: McGraw-Hill.
Virués-Ortega, J., & Martin, G. L. (2010). Guidelines for sport psychologists to evaluate their interventions in clinical cases using single-subject designs. Journal of Behavioral Health and Medicine, 3, 158–171.
Wanlin, C., Hrycaiko, D., Martin, G. L., & Mahon, M. (1997). The effects of a goal setting package on the performance of young female speed skaters. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 9, 212–228.
Ward, P., & Carnes, M. (2002). Effects of posting self-set goals on collegiate football players’ skill execution during practice and games. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 35, 1–12.
Weinberg, R. S., & Gould, D. (2007). Foundations of sport and exercise psychology (4th ed.). Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
Weinberg, R. S., Seabourne, T. G., & Jackson, A. (1981). Effects of visuo-motor behavior rehearsal, relaxation, and imagery on karate performance. Journal of Sport Psychology, 3, 228–238.
Williams, J. M. (2010). Relaxation and energizing techniques for regulation of arousal. In J. M. Williams (Ed.), Applied sport psychology: Personal growth to peak performance (6th ed., pp. 247–266). New York: McGraw-Hill.
Wilson, V. E., Peper, E., & Schmid, A. (2006). Strategies for training concentration. In J. M. Williams (Ed.), Applied sport psychology: Personal growth to peak performance (5th ed., pp. 333–348). New York: McGraw-Hill.
Ziegler, S. G. (1987). Effects of stimulus cueing on the acquisition of groundstrokes by beginning tennis players. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 20, 405–411.
Zinsser, N., Bunker, L., & Williams, J. M. (2006). Cognitive techniques for building confidence and enhancing performance. In J. M. Williams (Ed.), Applied sport psychology: Personal growth to peak performance (5th ed., pp. 349–381). New York: McGraw-Hill.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2011 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Martin, G.L., Thomson, K. (2011). Overview of Behavioral Sport Psychology. In: Luiselli, J., Reed, D. (eds) Behavioral Sport Psychology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-0070-7_1
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-0070-7_1
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-0069-1
Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-0070-7
eBook Packages: Behavioral ScienceBehavioral Science and Psychology (R0)