Dr Ross Roberts

I am a senior lecturer in sport & exercise psychology and a member of the Institute for the Psychology of Elite Performance. My research interests centre on personality in relation to performance and health, with a specific focus on narcissism. In recent years I have received research funding from a variety of sources including the MoD, Rugby Football Union, UK Sport, England and Wales Cricket Board, Sport Wales, and the European Social Fund. Much of my work  is collaborative and involves organisations from the High Performance domain. Current and recent collaborators include the ECB, UK Sport, RFU, MoD, Mountain Training UK, and the Youth Justice Service. I am also a chartered psychologist and associated fellow of the British Psychological Society and a Health Care Professions Council registered sport & exercise psychologist. I have over 15 years’ experience working with high level performers and coaches in sport and military settings on a variety of performance-related issues, and also supervise aspirant psychology practitioners.

2019

• Coaches Coaching Psychological Skills – Why Not? A Framework and Questionnaire Development
  
  Arthur, R, Roberts, R, Callow, N & Glendinning, F 2019, 'Coaches Coaching Psychological Skills – Why Not? A Framework and Questionnaire Development', Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1123/jsep.2017-0198
• Exercise behaviour, enjoyment and boredom
  
  Deck, S, Roberts, R, Hall, C & Kouali, D 2019, 'Exercise behaviour, enjoyment and boredom: A test of the 2x2 model of perfectionism', International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1080/1612197X.2019.1581830
• When the Going Gets Tough, Who Gets Going? An Examination of the Relationship Between Narcissism, Effort, and Performance
  
  Roberts, R, Cooke, A, Woodman, T, Hupfeld, H, Barwood, C & Manley, H 2019, 'When the Going Gets Tough, Who Gets Going? An Examination of the Relationship Between Narcissism, Effort, and Performance', Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology, vol. 8, no. 1, pp. 93-105. https://doi.org/10.1037/spy0000124

2018

• Influence of vitamin D supplementation by sunlight or oral D3 on exercise performance
  
  Carswell, AT, Oliver, SJ, Wentz, LM, Kashi, DS, Roberts, R, Tang, JC, Izard, RM, Jackson, S, Allan, D, Rhodes, LE, Fraser, WD, Greeves, JP & Walsh, NP 2018, 'Influence of vitamin D supplementation by sunlight or oral D3 on exercise performance', Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, vol. 50, no. 12, pp. 2555-2564. https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0000000000001721
• Structural validation of three German versions of behavioral and motivational scales in high-risk sports
  
  Frühauf, A, Hardy, WAS, Roberts, R, Niedermeier, M & Kopp, M 2018, 'Structural validation of three German versions of behavioral and motivational scales in high-risk sports', German Journal of Exercise and Sport Research, vol. 48, no. 4, pp. 467-477. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12662-018-0535-y
• The Benefit of Punishment Sensitivity On Motor Performance Under Pressure
  
  Manley, H, Beattie, S, Roberts, R, Lawrence, G & Hardy, L 2018, 'The Benefit of Punishment Sensitivity On Motor Performance Under Pressure', Journal of Personality, vol. 86, no. 3, pp. 339-352. https://doi.org/10.1111/jopy.12318
• High heart rate reactors display greater decreases in tear SIgA concentration following a novel acute stressor
  
  Hanstock, H, Edwards, J, Roberts, R & Walsh, N 2018, 'High heart rate reactors display greater decreases in tear SIgA concentration following a novel acute stressor', Biological Psychology, vol. 133, no. March, pp. 85-88. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsycho.2018.02.002
• Anxiety and perceived psychological stress play an important role in the immune response after exercise
  
  Edwards, J, Walsh, N, Diment, B & Roberts, R 2018, 'Anxiety and perceived psychological stress play an important role in the immune response after exercise', Exercise Immunology Review, vol. 24.
• I’ll get there because I’m great, or am I?
  
  Manley, H, Roberts, R, Beattie, S & Woodman, T 2018, 'I’ll get there because I’m great, or am I? Narcissistic Vulnerability Moderates the Narcissistic Grandiosity – Goal Persistence Relationship', Personality and Individual Differences, vol. 120, no. 1, pp. 65-74. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2017.08.024

2017

• Psychological skills and “the Paras”
  
  Arthur, R, Fitzwater, J, Roberts, R, Hardy, J & Arthur, C 2017, 'Psychological skills and “the Paras”: The indirect effects of psychological skills on endurance', Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, vol. 29, no. 4, pp. 449-465. https://doi.org/10.1080/10413200.2017.1306728
• The darker side of personality
  
  Jones, B, Woodman, T, Barlow, M & Roberts, R 2017, 'The darker side of personality: Narcissism predicts moral disengagement and antisocial behavior in sport', Sport Psychologist, vol. 31, no. 2, pp. 109-116. https://doi.org/10.1123/tsp.2016-0007
• The moderating role of narcissism on the reciprocal relationship between self-efficacy and performance
  
  Beattie, S, Dempsey, C, Roberts, R, Woodman, T & Cooke, A 2017, 'The moderating role of narcissism on the reciprocal relationship between self-efficacy and performance', Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology, vol. 6, no. 2, pp. 199-214. https://doi.org/10.1037/spy0000092
• Kinesthetic imagery provides additive benefits to internal visual imagery on slalom task performance
  
  Callow, N, Jiang, D, Roberts, R & Edwards, M 2017, 'Kinesthetic imagery provides additive benefits to internal visual imagery on slalom task performance', Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, vol. 39, no. 1, pp. 81-86. https://doi.org/10.1123/jsep.2016-0168
• Pass Me the ball
  
  Roberts, R, Woodman, T & Sedikides, C 2017, 'Pass Me the ball: Narcissism in performance settings', International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology.

2016

• Personality and group functioning
  
  Dempsey, C, Ong, CW, Woodman, T & Roberts, RJ 2016, Personality and group functioning: Managing a Narcissist's ego (Chapter 6). in S Cotterill, N Weston & G Breslin (eds), Applied Sport & Exercise Psychology: Practitioner Case Studies. 2016 edn, Wiley.
• Revisiting the Exercise Imagery and Exercise Dependence Relationship
  
  Divine, A, Roberts, R & Hall, C 2016, 'Revisiting the Exercise Imagery and Exercise Dependence Relationship', International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology.
• The Leader Ship is Sinking
  
  Ong, CW, Roberts, R, Arthur, C, Woodman, T & Akehurst, S 2016, 'The Leader Ship is Sinking: A Temporal Investigation of Narcissistic Leadership', Journal of Personality, vol. 84, no. 2, pp. 237-247. https://doi.org/10.1111/jopy.12155

2015

• Contemporary personality perspectives in sport psychology
  
  Woodman, T & Roberts, RJ 2015, Contemporary personality perspectives in sport psychology. in S Mellalieu & S Hanton (eds), Contemporary Advances in Sport Psychology: A Review. 2015 edn, Routledge, pp. 1-27.

2014

• Not all players are equally motivated: The role of narcissism.
  
  Roberts, RJ, Woodman, T, Lofthouse, S & Williams, L 2014, 'Not all players are equally motivated: The role of narcissism.', European Journal of Sport Science, vol. 15, no. 6, pp. 536-542. https://doi.org/10.1080/17461391.2014.987324
• Personality and performance: Beyone the Big 5
  
  Roberts, RJ, Woodman, T, Schinke, RJ (ed.), McGannon, KR (ed.) & Smith, B (ed.) 2014, Personality and performance: Beyone the Big 5. in International handbook of sport psychology. 2016 edn, Routledge.

2013

• Performance improvements from imagery: evidence that internal visual imagery is superior to external visual imagery for slalom performance
  
  Callow, N, Roberts, RJ, Hardy, LJ, Jiang, D & Edwards, MG 2013, 'Performance improvements from imagery: evidence that internal visual imagery is superior to external visual imagery for slalom performance', Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, vol. 7. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2013.00697
• Watch me if you can: imagery ability moderates observational learning effectiveness
  
  Roberts, RJ, Lawrence, GP, Callow, N & Roberts, R 2013, 'Watch me if you can: imagery ability moderates observational learning effectiveness', Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, vol. 7. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2013.00522
• Perfectionism and the 'Yips': An Initial Investigation
  
  Roberts, RJ, Rotherham, M, Maynard, I, Thomas, O & Woodman, T 2013, 'Perfectionism and the 'Yips': An Initial Investigation', Sport Psychologist, vol. 27, no. 1, pp. 53-61.

2012

• Psychological Skills Do Not Always Help Performance: The Moderating Role of Narcissism
  
  Roberts, RJ, Woodman, T, Hardy, LJ, Davis, L & Wallace, HM 2012, 'Psychological Skills Do Not Always Help Performance: The Moderating Role of Narcissism', Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, vol. 25, no. 3, pp. 316-325. https://doi.org/10.1080/10413200.2012.731472
• Physiological and Psychological Illness Symptoms at High Altitude and Their Relationship With Acute Mountain Sickness: A Prospective Cohort Study
  
  Hardy, LJ, Arthur, CA, Roberts, RJ, Oliver, SJ, Sanders, SJ, Williams, CJ, Smith, ZA, Lloyd-Davies E.*, NV, Roberts, R, Arthur, C, Hardy, L & Macdonald, JH 2012, 'Physiological and Psychological Illness Symptoms at High Altitude and Their Relationship With Acute Mountain Sickness: A Prospective Cohort Study', Journal of Travel Medicine, vol. 19, no. 4, pp. 210-219. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1708-8305.2012.0060
• Visual imagery perspectives and preference: Conceptualization and measurement
  
  Roberts, RJ, Callow, N & Roberts, R 2012, 'Visual imagery perspectives and preference: Conceptualization and measurement', Journal of Mental Imagery, vol. 36, pp. 31-39.

2011

• There Is an “I“ in TEAM: Narcissism and Social Loafing
  
  Woodman, T, Roberts, RJ, Hardy, LJ, Callow, N & Rogers, CH 2011, 'There Is an “I“ in TEAM: Narcissism and Social Loafing', Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, vol. 82, no. 2, pp. 285-290. https://doi.org/10.5641/027013611X13119541883988

2010

• Coach education related to the delivery of imagery: two interventions.
  
  Roberts, RJ, Callow, N, Roberts, R, Bringer, J & Langan, E 2010, 'Coach education related to the delivery of imagery: two interventions.', Sport Psychologist, vol. 24, no. 3, pp. 277-299.
• Interactive effects of different visual imagery perspectives and narcissism on motor performance.
  
  Roberts, RJ, Roberts, R, Callow, N, Hardy, LJ, Woodman, T & Thomas, L 2010, 'Interactive effects of different visual imagery perspectives and narcissism on motor performance.', Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, vol. 32, no. 4, pp. 499-517.
• Imagery research: an investigation of three issues.
  
  Roberts, RJ, Callow, N & Roberts, R 2010, 'Imagery research: an investigation of three issues.', Psychology of Sport and Exercise, vol. 11, no. 4, pp. 325-329. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2010.03.002
• Putts that get missed on the right: Investigating lateralized attentional biases and the nature of putting errors in golf.
  
  Roberts, RJ, Roberts, R & Turnbull, OH 2010, 'Putts that get missed on the right: Investigating lateralized attentional biases and the nature of putting errors in golf.', Journal of Sports Sciences, vol. 28, no. 4, pp. 369-374. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640410903536467
• Test performance strategies (TOPS): Instrument refinement using confirmatory factor analysis.
  
  Roberts, RJ, Hardy, LJ, Hardy, L, Roberts, R, Thomas, PR & Murphy, SM 2010, 'Test performance strategies (TOPS): Instrument refinement using confirmatory factor analysis.', Psychology of Sport and Exercise, vol. 11, no. 1, pp. 27-35. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2009.04.007

2009

• Awareness and Motivation to Change Negative Self-Talk.
  
  Hardy, JT, Hardy, LJ, Roberts, RJ, Hardy, J, Roberts, R & Hardy, L 2009, 'Awareness and Motivation to Change Negative Self-Talk.', Sport Psychologist, vol. 23, no. 4, pp. 435-450.
• Coaches’ use of imagery with their athletes: Two interventions
  
  Roberts, RJ, Roberts, R, Callow, N, Bringer, J & Langan, E 2009, 'Coaches’ use of imagery with their athletes: Two interventions' Paper presented at, 3/01/01, .
• Examining the (potential) role of imagery in the pseudoneglect-motor performance relationship.
  
  Roberts, RJ, Roberts, R, Turnbull, OH & Brett, R 2009, 'Examining the (potential) role of imagery in the pseudoneglect-motor performance relationship.' Paper presented at, 3/01/01, .
• Interactive effects of different visual imagery perspectives and narcissism on motor performance.
  
  Roberts, RJ, Roberts, R & Thomas, L 2009, 'Interactive effects of different visual imagery perspectives and narcissism on motor performance.' Paper presented at, 3/01/01, .

2008

• Imagery perspectives and modalities: An investigation of three issues
  
  Roberts, RJ, Roberts, R & Callow, N 2008, 'Imagery perspectives and modalities: An investigation of three issues' Paper presented at, 3/01/02, .
• Movement imagery ability: Development and assessment of a revised version of the vividness of movement imagery questionnaire.
  
  Roberts, RJ, Callow, N, Hardy, L, Markland, DA & Bringer, J 2008, 'Movement imagery ability: Development and assessment of a revised version of the vividness of movement imagery questionnaire.', Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, vol. 30, no. 2, pp. 200-221.
• Imagery research 2003-2007: Bangor and SCW collaborations
  
  Roberts, RJ & Roberts, R 2008, 'Imagery research 2003-2007: Bangor and SCW collaborations' Paper presented at, 3/01/01, .
• Visual imagery perspective issues: An update
  
  Roberts, RJ, Roberts, R & Callow, N 2008, 'Visual imagery perspective issues: An update' Paper presented at, 3/01/01, .

2007

• Interactive effects of different visual imagery perspectives and narcissism on motor performance
  
  Roberts, RJ, Roberts, R, Callow, N, Hardy, L & Woodman, T 2007, 'Interactive effects of different visual imagery perspectives and narcissism on motor performance' Paper presented at, 3/01/01, .
• Investigating the role of personality in the effects of different visual imagery perspectives on performance
  
  Roberts, RJ, Roberts, R, Callow, N & Hardy, L 2007, 'Investigating the role of personality in the effects of different visual imagery perspectives on performance' Paper presented at, 3/01/01, .
• Movement imagery ability: Measurement, Perspectives and modalities
  
  Roberts, RJ, Roberts, R, Callow, N, Hardy, L, Markland, D & Bringer, J 2007, 'Movement imagery ability: Measurement, Perspectives and modalities' Paper presented at, 3/01/01, .

2006

• Effects of dynamic and static imagery on vividness of imagery, skiing performance and confidence.
  
  Roberts, RJ, Callow, N, Roberts, R & Fawkes, JZ 2006, 'Effects of dynamic and static imagery on vividness of imagery, skiing performance and confidence.', Journal of Imagery Research in Sport and Physical Activity, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. Article 2. https://doi.org/10.2202/1932-0191.1001
• Measuring imagery ability: The vividness of movement imagery questionnaire – 2
  
  Roberts, RJ, Roberts, R, Callow, N, Markland, D, Hardy, L & Bringer, J 2006, 'Measuring imagery ability: The vividness of movement imagery questionnaire – 2' Paper presented at, 3/01/01, .

2005

• Effects of different visual imagery perspectives on the performance of tasks where line is important
  
  Roberts, RJ, Roberts, R, Callow, N & Hardy, L 2005, 'Effects of different visual imagery perspectives on the performance of tasks where line is important' Paper presented at, 3/01/01, .
• The relationship between imagery, anxiety, and performance in Gaelic footballers
  
  Roberts, RJ, Callow, N, Roberts, R & Davis, JP 2005, 'The relationship between imagery, anxiety, and performance in Gaelic footballers' Paper presented at, 3/01/01, .

2003

• The effects of motivational imagery on physical performance and RPE in a controlled sport setting
  
  Roberts, RJ, Roberts, R & Callow, N 2003, 'The effects of motivational imagery on physical performance and RPE in a controlled sport setting' Paper presented at, 3/01/01, .

• KESS II MRes with The Outdoor Partnership- BUK2153
• KESS II Phd with Mountain Training UK Inc Ltd- BUK269
• Review of culture in elite sport
• Biomedical vacation scholarship 2009

When not working I can usually be found running in the mountains of North Wales