Sport and exercise psychology is a rapidly expanding field both academically and professionally. Aidan Moran, former psychologist to the Irish Olympic squad, provides the first textbook to combine an explanation of the theoretical foundations of sport and exercise psychology with critical reviews of contemporary research, and practical suggestions for relevant independent research projects. Arranged in four complementary parts, the book moves from a general discussion of the nature and role of sport psychology to explorations of individual, group and health factors affecting performance. Key themes explored in this text include: motivation and goal-setting in sport using imagination in sport coping with injury. Designed to encourage students to apply their psychological knowledge and critical thinking abilities, each chapter features a summary and boxed highlights containing questions to help students gain maximum understanding of the material.

Table of Contents

Part 1. Introducing Sport and Exercise Psychology: Discipline and Profession. Part 2. Exploring Athletic Performance: Key Constructs. 1. Motivation and Goal-setting in Sport. 2. "Psyching Up" and "Calming Down": Anxiety in Sport. 3. Staying Focussed in Sport: Concentration in Sport Performers. 4. Using Imagination in Sport: Mental Imagery and Mental Practice in Athletes. 5. What Lies Beneath the Surface? Investigating Expertise in Sport. Part 3. Team Cohesion. 6. Exploring Team Cohesion in Sport: A Critical Perspective. Part 4. Exploring Health, Exercise and Injury. 7. Does a Healthy Body Always Lead to a Healthy Mind? Exploring Exercise Psychology. 8. Helping Athletes to Cope with Injury: From Theory to Practice.

Author Biography

Aidan Moran is Professor of Psychology at University College, Dublin, Ireland. Published extensively in books and journals, he has gained an international reputation for his research on concentration, mental imaging and expertise in athletics.