In this post, we have answered numerous questions regarding performance psychology and it's importance.
Please take your time to read up on it and understand why we strive to reach as many people as possible.
What is Performance Psychology?
Psychology and it's day-to-day importance is gradually being better understood. With mental health reducing in stigma and athletes and professionals taking a break from their careers to focus on themselves, psychology is only going to gain more awareness.
Performance psychology is interested in the impact that our brain has on our ability to achieve success. As psychologists, we strive to understand how an individual's thoughts, feelings and mental processes can effect their overall performance.
Who might require performance psychology intervention?
You might assume that performance psychology isn't relevant to you. However, poor cognitive processes can impact all types of performance ranging from: sport performance, professional performance and general ability to lead a fulfilling life.
Almost everyone will experience negative and unwanted emotions in their life, some will experience more than others. However, these emotions are unique and can impact people in very different ways. Some people can manage work related stress better than others whilst different people might be stronger at overcoming challenges. But, most people will experience a point in their life where they feel isolated and can't see the light at the end of the tunnel.
That's where a performance psychologist is useful. Whether it's being a successful athlete, achieving your health goals, or learning how to deal with pressure at work, a performance psychologist can benefit you. Whenever you feel stuck and you aren't quite performing at your best, performance psychology can provide the tools to fulfil your potential.
So, in short, anyone and everyone might require performance psychology.
Why is performance psychology useful?
Psychological intervention can help to improve numerous aspects of your life by providing you with the tools to think rationally, build self-esteem and increase motivation during life's struggles.
A performance psychologist will likely spend a session listening to your experiences and your challenges, then once they have a better understanding, they will then be able to provide tools to overcome your barriers. Performance psychologists might often recommend interventions such as coping strategies, mindfulness, self-talk, relaxation skills and much more. All interventions will be strongly supported by previous research and discussed with a client prior to implementation.
A 2022 study (Lochbaum et al., 2022), found that performance psychology intervention enhanced performance and improved mental variables such as confidence, mindfulness and team cohesion.
Are there different approaches to performance psychology?
Yes, there are countless approaches and philosophies when it comes to performance psychology. You'll find that one psychologist's approach is very different to another's, it all depends on their own beliefs. That doesn't mean that one approach is any better than the other, the effectiveness is determined by the client and whether they feel an intervention has had a positive impact.
Here are just a few philosophies and approaches to psychology:
Positivist (understanding what makes you happy)
Behaviourism (humans learn behaviour through learning)
Cognitive approach (understanding thoughts and feelings)
You can read up on a few approaches here: https://www.simplypsychology.org/a-level-approaches.html (Brookes, 2023).
At Forward Drive, we take on an interactionist approach in which we believe multiple different factors can impact our actions. Ultimately, we are interested in a client's thoughts and feelings and how that might enhance or inhibit their ability to perform.
Conclusion
Performance psychology aims to understand how thoughts and feelings can inhibit and enhance performance. It has great benefits and can help individuals in so many different ways ranging from building confidence, improving organisationsl skills and developing tools to withstand pressure. There are many different ways used to achieve your goals but the success of each strategy is dependent on your psychologist's philosophy and how well you engage with it.
If you'd like anymore information, please email isaacporter@forwarddrivepsychology.com
References
Brookes, E. (2023). Psychology approaches revision for a-level. Simply Psychology. https://www.simplypsychology.org/a-level-approaches.html
Lochbaum, M., Stoner, E., Hefner, T., Cooper, S., Lane, A. M., & Terry, P. C. (2022). Sport psychology and performance meta-analyses: A systematic review of the literature. PloS one, 17(2), e0263408. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0263408
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