The most relevant theory to the topic of interest is Fredrickson’s Broaden and Build Theory of Positive Emotions. Fredrickson argued that negative emotions created some sort of a skewed vision. However, when individuals embrace positive emotions, they widen their perspective. Specifically, positive emotions such as gratitude, joy, and awe expand the experience of individuals within the environment (Conway et al., 2013). While the theory does not suggest ignoring of negative emotions, it cautions about the consequences of continuing to ignore the positive ones. In essence, the theory seems to emphasize that when individuals focus on negative emotions such as anger, fear, guilt, sadness and anxiety they could fail to achieve the targets or goals of tasks they are expected to perform.
The topic proposed for study is how stress and anxiety can be handled psychologically by athletes as well as their consequences in the field. Athletes experience high levels of negative emotions as they prepare as well as when they participate in the actual competitions. Additionally, the athletes could also suffer depression when they fail to cope with defeat. According to Fredrickson’s Broaden and Build Theory of Positive Emotions, negative feelings could adversely affect the performance of athletes. On the contrary, athletes need to have positive emotions whenever they prepare, participate, and complete the competitions.
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Fredrickson’s theory involves an applied focus. In particular, most of the aspects of the theory are interventions. The theory advocates for counseling and relaxation of athletes. The coach needs to ensure athletes are relaxed and have positive attitudes towards the competitions. Although winning is important, athletes should not be subjected to immense pressure such as being told about the consequences of not winning. Instead, athletes need to focus on the positive aspects of winning, and in the even they lose, they ought to have positive mechanisms of coping with defeat.
Peer Responses
Response to Daniel James
Hi, I am particularly interested in your post because your topic is almost related to mine. I gather that you have picked trait theories and in your research, you will be seeking to establish how personality traits affect how some professional athletes rise through the ranks while others do not. One of the most prominent aspects I would like to suggest that you try to establish is whether those specific traits are specifically intrinsic or can be learned. For instance, the question of whether there is any possibility of an introvert learning to be social and subsequently, if the trait can stick permanently with the individual. You have chosen an interesting topic and theory, and I also think people may want to know whether some professional athletes have in-born advantages that could make them to automatically excel in their careers compared to others who do not have these ‘advantages’. Good luck!
Savanna Dutton
Hello, most of us also had challenges pinpointing the most relevant theories to our topics but I believe the purpose of this assignment is to develop our research and analytical skills. I believe we will find it a bit easier, now that we have chosen the topics and at least have frameworks in place to conduct research. Regarding the theory of cognitive dissonance, I believe it relates to crime and reoffending. It relates to people’s judgment or reasoning, and consequently, picking up of certain behaviors. People who have mental disorders or even mental imbalances may reoffend more than those that do not have any of the disorders. Perhaps the reason could be that people with cognitive issues have skewed reasoning. That could also explain why many of the people who abuse illegal drugs may be prone to breaking the law.
Reference
Conway, A. M., Tugade, M. M., Catalino, L. I., & Fredrickson, B. L. (2013). The broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions: Form, function and mechanisms. Oxford handbook of happiness , 17-34.
