Overview

Delivered by an accredited sport and exercise psychologist and an expert in psychophysiology who are working with elite level athletes, coaches, business, and the armed forces; you will be taught the most up-to-date theories and applied interventions in stress and performance literature.
Main areas of stress and performance that will be covered include: Attentional Control e.g. why are we distracted by threat? Ironic Effects e.g. why do we do the exact things that we tell ourselves not to? Reinvestment e.g. why do we sometimes “overthink” our movements under pressure? Challenge and Threat perceptions e.g. what do our psychophysiological responses to stress mean, and how can we optimally control them? Intervention planning, design, and reflection.

Assessment Strategy

-threshold -Pass 50%>Work demonstrates basic understanding of the underlying theories and models covered in the course and ability to apply them to devise sensible interventions. Some inaccuracies and misconceptions may be evident. Adequate links to supporting research but precision in describing the research may be lacking. -good -Merit 60%>Work demonstrates understanding and discussion of the underlying theories and models covered in the course and ability to apply them to devise well-thought out interventions. Few to no inaccuracies and misconceptions. Links to supporting research provided throughout – supporting research described to a good to very good level, but still lacks the very highest level of precision and critique. -excellent -Distinction 70%>Work demonstrates in-depth understanding and thorough discussion of the underlying theories and models covered in the course. Clear ability to apply theory to devise well-thought out interventions that are justified and supported by previous research. Few to no inaccuracies or misconceptions. Extensive references to supporting research provided throughout – supporting research described in clear and precise detail throughout with evidence of astute critique.

Learning Outcomes

• Apply the contemporary stress and performance theory and research to explain performance slumps that present in real-life performer case studies.

• Construct theoretically driven interventions to help alleviate adverse effects of stress on performance.

• Critically analyse stress and performance research.

• Describe the key theories used to explain the relationship between stress and motor performance.