Word Association

Personality

Aims and Objectives To understand the theories related to

personality. To evaluate the measurement of personality To apply personality theory to the sporting

arena, for example, is there a sporting personality?

v

Definition Personality is the sum total of an individual’s

characteristics which make him unique. (Hollander 1971)

Those relatively stable and enduring aspects of individuals which distinguish them from other people, making them unique, but which at the same time allow people to be compared with each other. (Gross, 1996)

Trait Theory Trait theorists such as Eysenck and Cattell saw

personality as a collection of traits. They suggested we have underlying characteristics which determine our behaviour and make that behaviour possible to predict. We can predict behaviour in all situations.

For example, if a tennis player is identified as assertive they are assertive regardless of the situation.

Eysenck’s Theory of Personality (1947)

700 neurotic battle-fatigued soldiers Factor analysis Two dimensions

Aggressive

Active

Sociable

carefree

PassiveCalm

Moodyquiet

Eysenck continued……………

Eysenck later added a third dimension:

Psychotic Non-psychotic

According to Eysenck, a person could be located anywhere along the dimensions.

Social Learning TheoryObservation and modelling- Bandura

(1) Attention, through observation (2) Retention, including symbolic coding,

cognitive organisation, symbolic rehearsal, motor rehearsal

(3) Motor Reproduction, including physical capabilities, self-observation of reproduction, accuracy of feedback

(4) Motivation, including external, vicarious and self reinforcement

Hollander’s Structure of Personality

12 3

Psychological Core

Typical Responses

Role related behaviour

Personality as a layered structure Hollander’s Structure of Personality (1971)Personality core –Developed from early environmental interactions –Includes perceptions of external world and self, basic

attitudes, values, interests, and motives –Reflective of who we are; least amenable to change

Typical responses to situations –Fairly predictable behaviours and reactions

Personality as a layered structure

Role-related behaviours –Variable, daily behaviours influenced by the

particular context we are in –Most easily changed

Interactionist approach

B=f (P, E)

Behaviour (B) is a function (f) of personality

traits (P) and environmental conditions (E).

Measuring personality

The ability to predict who will drop out of, or stay in activities is particularly useful for coaches and administrators. However, personalitytests have so far been unable to identify who will stay andwho will go.The idea of using psychological characteristics such as personality in talent-identification programmes is also attractive again though we need to be careful in understanding there are a lot more other areas to consider other than personality when analyzing an individual’s suitability for a role or type of sport.

Measuring personality

Rorschach Inkblot Test

Measuring personality

Interviews and observations

Measuring personalityPsychometric Testing

QuestionnairesEysenck Personality Questionnaire-measuresextroversion/introversion, neuroticism/stability and psychoticism. Subjects scoring high on E representhigh neuroticism and low stability.

Example from extroversion/introversion category

Do you usually finish your meals before other peopleeven though there is no reason to hurry?Yes □ Maybe □ No □

Measuring Personality

Catell’s 16 Personality Factor (16PF)

Questionnaire. Started with 18,000 adjectives Through refinement arrived at 16 source traits For example: trusting 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 suspicious

practicalimaginative

reserved outgoing

Scored on an 10 point scale

Measuring personalityThe Minnesota Multiphase Personality Inventory

Comprised of 567 questions, which takes up to

90 minutes to complete.

It is extremely detailed and accurate

Originally developed by Starke Hathaway and

J.C. McKilney at the University of Minnesota in

the late 1930's.

Revised in 1989 and 2001.

Measuring personality

Profile of Mood States (POMS)‘Iceberg Profile’- Morgan (1978)Compared with non athletes, top level x-c skiers displayed: lower level of tension

lower level of depression

about equal levels of anger

significantly higher vigor

less fatigue and confusion

Applying the theoryIs there a sporting personality? Individual Differences Characteristics of the various sports- individual/team Lack of a state-trait approach Problems with measurement Silva (1984) the higher up the ‘athletic pyramid’ the athletes

were the more similar theirpersonalities were to othersat that level.