Psychology of Movement Behavior

Catalog description

Psychology of Movement Behavior is designed to introduce students to the basic concepts and applications of psychological knowledge for organized sport, physical activity, athletic training, and related environments where people are active. The course touches on the history of sport and exercise psychology, sport and exercise psychology consultants' responsibilities (i.e., research, teaching, and service), and understanding sport and exercise participants' personality traits and motivation for participation. The course also promotes an understanding of sport and exercise environments through discussion of competition, group dynamics, and the principles of feedback and reinforcement. Performance enhancement is also covered through discussion of topics related to psychological skills training and application (e.g., goal setting, imagery, and relaxation training). Finally, the course focuses on enhancing sport and exercise participants' health and well-being by promoting an understanding of addictive behaviors (e.g., exercise dependence, eating disorders, and substance dependence), body image, injury rehabilitation, and exercise initiation, maintenance, and adherence. The general objective of this course is to familiarize the student with the science and practice of sport and exercise psychology from both a theoretical and applied perspective. To achieve this objective, the student will: (a) develop an understanding of how various psychological factors influence athletic performance, physical activity participation, and overall health and well-being; (b) learn the methods used by athletes and exercisers of various skill levels to achieve peak performance; (c) understand the scientific and theoretical background of sport and exercise participation; and (d) comprehend how psychological skills are applied to sport and exercise environments to enhance peak performance and quality of life, and recognize the ethical principles of applying these psychological skills.