The field of psychology is broader than most people realize, containing a number of sub-disciplines reflected by the 54 divisions of the American Psychological Association (APA). The public is probably more familiar with the fact that psychologists help people with mental health problems by providing assessment, counseling, and psychotherapy. Where does sport psychology fit into the field of psychology?
According to the APA, “Sport psychology is a proficiency that uses psychological knowledge and skills to address optimal performance and well-being of athletes,” (and other performers outside of sport), as well as the “developmental and social aspects of sports participation, and systemic issues associated with sports settings and organizations.” Athletes and other performers seek sport psychology consultants to help them with issues that interfere with performance and also sometimes mental health concerns. If that were all, perhaps sport psychology could be seen as a niche, a narrower sub-discipline in the crowded field of psychology impacting just a small subset of the population. But what if sport psychology has more to offer other sub-disciplines, the field of psychology, and the public as a whole?
Research consistently shows that exercise reduces stress, anxiety, and depression, and it is about as effective at treating symptoms of depression as therapy, yet only about 10% of therapists consistently recommend it. Many therapists are untrained in interventions to promote exercise adherence, suggesting practitioners should learn more from sport and exercise psychology. Psychological disorders negatively impact one or more areas of peoples’ lives including social and occupational functioning, but many of us benefit from mindfulness strategies that sport psychology consultants have used for years to promote better focus, flow states, and optimal zones of functioning. Sport psychology overlaps with both social psychology and industrial organizational psychology as it studies human performance in groups including social facilitation, team cohesion, coaching, and leadership, so sport psychology has added value in helping not only individuals but also groups to overcome problems and improve performance.
Sport psychology offers added value to the field of psychology with its positive approach toward psychology, one that focuses not only on problems but perhaps even more on solutions, and its focus on improving human performance is clearly a central concern of the field and the public as a whole. APA and the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP) both have great resources if you’re interested in learning more about psychology and sport psychology. You can also follow this blog to learn more about sport psychology.
