SURANA EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS

NAME: NEHA H M

CLASS: MSc

SUBJECT: 2.1 PERSONALITY PSYCHOLOGY

TOPIC: APLICATIONS OF PERSONALITY

PSYCHOLOGY IN SPORTS
 APPLICATIONS OF PERSONALITY PSYCHOLOGY IN SPORTS

CONTENTS:

1. INTRODUCTION TO PERSONALITY IN SPORTS

2. BIG FIVE PERSONALITY FACTORS IN SPORTS
3. COMPARISON OF ATHLETES' PERSONALITY CHARACTERISTICS IN
INDIVIDUAL AND TEAM SPORTS
4. HOW PERSONALITY AND INDIVIDUAL CHARACTERISTICS MAY PLAY A
ROLE IN SPORT AND EXERCISE PERFORMANCE
5. USE OF PERSONALITY TESTS
6. REFERENCES
INTRODUCTION TO PERSONALITY IN SPORTS

Personality refers to the enduring characteristics and behaviour that comprise a person’s unique
adjustment to life, including major traits, interests, drives, values, self-concept, abilities, and
emotional patterns. Various theories explain the structure and development of personality in
different ways, but all agree that personality helps determine behaviour. The field of personality
psychology studies the nature and definition of personality as well as its development, structure
and trait constructs, dynamic processes, variations (with emphasis on enduring and stable
individual differences), and maladaptive forms. In psychology, the study of personality
explores the processes behind the development of your unique characteristics and personality
traits, and how they manifest and change over time. In other words, how your individual
characteristics come together to make up your unique personality type. The fact that everyone
is different is extremely important when it comes to sport and coaching. As a coach it is
essential that you understand the personality of your athlete in order to optimise the
transmission of your message and their subsequent performance; as an athlete it is important
you understand the significance of personality and its potential effect on performance.

It is considered that personality relates to the specific traits a person displays. A trait is a
characteristic, which can be related to a person, for example ‘laziness’. Therefore, Peterson
(1998) suggests that is a combination of these traits which results in personality. As with any
construct in psychology there are numerous theories behind personality. The most common
used theory in the literature currently is The Five Factor Model of Personality (FFM) used by
many in their writing (Wiggins, 1996; Bleidorn et al. 2010; Allen et al., 2013). The FFM,
according to the APA Dictionary of Psychology, includes extraversion, neuroticism,
conscientiousness, agreeableness, and openness to experience as the factors which effect
personality. Extraversion relates to interpersonal relations; neuroticism relates to the likelihood
the individual may suffer from emotional instability with conscientiousness the factor which
deals with goal-related behaviour. Finally, agreeableness concerns their focus on co-operation
and openness to experience is self-explanatory (Roccas et al., 2002; Allen et al., 2013). Roccas
et al. (2002) claim that the traits of the FFM can interact, which supports the notion that no one
trait is independent from another and it is the interaction of the traits which results in the
person’s personality. Roccas et al. (2002) goes further to suggest that traits influence
individuals on the subconscious level, meaning that they cause behaviour which is out of the
cognitive control of the person. As a result, it can be seen how important it is for a coach to
appreciate the personality of a player, as their personality traits may result in behaviour which
is unexplainable by the player themselves.

The degree to which an athlete presents one of the traits outlined in FFM can determine their
sporting performance. Allen et al. (2013) suggest, for example, that those competing at
International level are likely to display lower neuroticism and higher levels of
conscientiousness. It is also discussed how the direction of causality may not be fully known
with a study of British Gymnasts demonstrating greater conscientiousness following good
quality preparation in the lead up to a competition (Allen et al., 2013).

Personality also plays an important role in goal setting and the types of goals people set. It has
been noted that goal setting and personality are closely linked, with goals likely to be set in
order to compensate for or complement an individual’s personality (Salmela-Aro et al., 2012;
Reisz et al., 2013). Goal-setting is an important aspect of sport, and a very large concept in
itself. However, it is noted by Reisz et al. (2013) that goals are usually set to relate to the
individual’s personality. Therefore, should they be low in extroversion, their goal may be
focussed around improving that. When goal setting, it must then be noted, that it is important
to consider and understand the individual’s personality in order to appreciate why a certain
goal has been set.

Another aspect of sports performance linked to personality is that of coping behaviour and
strategies. This relates to the ability or techniques used by an athlete to deal with psychological
stressors such as anxiety. Allen et al. (2011) have discussed how different trait dominance
results in different coping strategies being displayed. This could be important form a coach’s
perspective due to the fact that understanding their trait dominance and the coping strategy
which is associated with bringing the best results for that trait, it is possible to individualise
direction given to players regarding coping. In return, an athlete who is able to cope with the
psychological pressure present in sport is likely to perform better. Furthermore, as a coach you
are in a position to see whether an athlete is adopting an undesirable coping strategy and can
work to improve the coping strategy to improve its effectiveness and benefit subsequent
performance.

Outside of the natural realms of sport, personality is also said to influence psychological well-
being and physical health (Ozer & Benet-Martinez, 2006). Ozer and Benet-Martinez (2006),
highlight how those with a more positive personality, higher in extraversion and
conscientiousness, are likely to live longer.

It can be seen how personality is based around 5 key traits according to FFM. These traits are
not isolated and it is the interaction and individual dominance of these traits which results in
personality. Personality itself can influence many aspects of sport performance and behaviour,
some of which may well be out of the athlete’s cognitive control. It is important to understand
personality if dealing with athletes to promote the best coping strategies and goals to assist in
improving their performance.

BIG FIVE PERSONALITY FACTORS IN SPORTS

The Big Five personality traits are a widely used framework for understanding human
personality. They are:

 Neuroticism: The tendency to experience negative emotions such as anxiety, anger, and
depression.
 Extraversion: The tendency to be outgoing, sociable, and assertive.
 Agreeableness: The tendency to be cooperative, trusting, and helpful.
 Conscientiousness: The tendency to be organized, hardworking, and self-disciplined.
 Openness to experience: The tendency to be curious, imaginative, and open to new
ideas.

Research has shown that personality traits can influence sports performance. For example, one
study found that athletes who scored high on measures of conscientiousness and extroversion
were more likely to be successful in team sports.

In the context of team sports, the Big Five personality traits can be used to assess the following:

 Neuroticism: Players with low levels of neuroticism are more likely to be mentally
tough and resilient under pressure.
 Extraversion: Players with high levels of extraversion are more likely to be good
communicators and leaders.
  Agreeableness: Players with high levels of agreeableness are more likely to be team
players and willing to sacrifice their own individual goals for the good of the team.
 Conscientiousness: Players with high levels of conscientiousness are more likely to be
organized, hardworking, and committed to their training.
 Openness to experience: Players with high levels of openness to experience are more
likely to be creative and innovative.

Of course, personality is not the only factor that influences sports performance. Other factors,
such as physical ability, technical skill, and training, are also important. However, personality
can play a significant role in determining an athlete's success.

In addition to the Big Five personality traits, there are other personality traits that may be
relevant to team sports performance. For example, some researchers have found that athletes
who score high on measures of emotional intelligence are more likely to be successful in team
sports. Emotional intelligence is the ability to understand and manage one's own emotions, as
well as the emotions of others. Overall, the personality traits of athletes can have a significant
impact on their performance in team sports. By understanding the different personality traits
that are important for success in team sports, coaches and athletes can work together to improve
performance.

COMPARISON OF ATHLETES' PERSONALITY CHARACTERISTICS IN INDIVIDUAL

AND TEAM SPORTS

One area of research that has received particular attention is the comparison of athletes'
personality characteristics in individual and team sports. This is because the two types of sports
require different skills and abilities, and it is hypothesized that different personality traits may
be more conducive to success in each type of sport.

A number of studies have been conducted to investigate this hypothesis, and the results have
generally been consistent. In general, individual sport athletes tend to score higher on
personality traits such as conscientiousness, autonomy, and openness to experience. These
traits are associated with qualities such as discipline, self-reliance, and creativity, which are all
important for success in individual sports.
Team sport athletes, on the other hand, tend to score higher on personality traits such as
agreeableness, sociotropy, and extraversion. These traits are associated with qualities such as
cooperation, social skills, and leadership, which are all important for success in team sports.

Of course, there is no single personality type that is guaranteed to lead to success in either
individual or team sports. However, the research suggests that certain personality traits may be
more conducive to success in each type of sport.

In addition to the personality traits mentioned above, other personality traits that have been
linked to success in individual and team sports include:

 Individual sports:
o Self-confidence
o Mental toughness
o Risk-taking
o Competitiveness
 Team sports:
o Communication skills
o Teamwork
o Leadership
o Empathy

It is important to note that these are just general trends, and there are always exceptions. There
are many individual sport athletes who are not particularly conscientious or open to experience,
and there are many team sport athletes who are not particularly agreeable or extraverted.

Ultimately, the best way to determine which personality traits are most important for success
in a particular sport is to consider the specific demands of that sport. However, the research
suggests that certain personality traits may be more conducive to success in individual and
team sports, and this information can be helpful for athletes who are trying to improve their
chances of success.

HOW PERSONALITY AND INDIVIDUAL CHARACTERISTICS MAY PLAY A ROLE IN

SPORT AND EXERCISE PERFORMANCE
In addition to personality traits, individual characteristics such as motivation, self-efficacy, and
coping style can also play a role in sport and exercise performance.

 Motivation: Motivation is the drive to achieve a goal. It is a complex construct that is

influenced by a variety of factors, including personality, personal values, and the
environment. In sport, motivation is essential for both short-term and long-term
success.
 Self-efficacy: Self-efficacy is the belief in one's ability to succeed. It is a key factor in
determining whether or not an athlete will attempt a challenging task or persist in the
face of setbacks.
 Coping style: Coping style is the way in which an individual deals with stress and
adversity. In sport, there are a variety of coping styles that can be effective, depending
on the situation.

All of these individual characteristics can interact with personality traits to influence sport and
exercise performance. For example, an athlete who is highly motivated and has a strong belief
in their ability to succeed (high self-efficacy) is more likely to perform well, even in the face
of challenges.

The research on the relationship between personality, individual characteristics, and sport
performance is still ongoing. However, the available evidence suggests that these factors can
play a significant role in determining an athlete's success.

USE OF PERSONALITY TESTS

The use of personality testing in sports is a controversial topic. Some people believe that it can
be a valuable tool for identifying athletes with the right personality traits for success, while
others believe that it is an invasion of privacy and that the results of personality tests are not
reliable.

There is some evidence to suggest that personality testing can be helpful in predicting athletic
success. For example, one study found that athletes who scored high on measures of
conscientiousness and extroversion were more likely to be successful in team sports. However,
other studies have found that personality tests are not very accurate at predicting athletic
success.

In addition, there are concerns about the validity of personality tests. Some personality tests
are based on questionable theories, and the results of these tests can be easily influenced by the
person's mood or state of mind.

Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to use personality testing in sports is a complex one.
There are both potential benefits and risks associated with this practice. It is important to weigh
these factors carefully before making a decision. The following are some of the ways in which
personality testing can be used in team sports:

 Identifying potential recruits: Personality testing can be used to identify athletes with
the right personality traits for success in a particular sport.
 Monitoring athlete development: Personality testing can be used to track an athlete's
personality development over time and identify any areas that need improvement.
 Managing team dynamics: Personality testing can be used to understand the different
personality types on a team and how they interact with each other.
 Improving mental toughness: Personality testing can be used to identify athletes who
are at risk of burnout or mental health problems and provide them with support.

Overall, personality testing can be a valuable tool for coaches and athletes in team sports. It
can help to identify potential recruits, monitor athlete development, manage team dynamics,
and improve mental toughness. Here are some of the pros and cons of personality testing in
sports:

Pros:

 Can help identify athletes with the right personality traits for success
 Can be used to assess an athlete's mental health and well-being
 Can help coaches and trainers develop personalized training plans

Cons:

 Results of personality tests are not always reliable

 Can be an invasion of privacy
  Can be used to discriminate against athletes

The role of personality in sport and physical activity is complex and multifaceted. However,
by understanding the different personality traits that are relevant to sport and physical activity,
coaches, athletes, and researchers can work together to improve performance and enjoyment.

REFERENCES

 https://members.believeperform.com/personality-in-sport-everyone-is-
different/#:~:text=Personality%20itself%20can%20influence%20many,assist%20in%
20improving%20their%20performance.
 https://psychcentral.com/health/what-is-personality
 https://www.excelatlife.com/articles/personality_testing.htm
 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8175891/
 https://www.jstor.org/stable/44318817
 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877042810015636