Sport and exercise psychology – understanding social, developmental and personality factors.

It is important that an Applied Sport and Exercise Psychology practitioner (ASEP) is aware of those factors that may have an
impact on sports/exercise performance and satisfaction so that these may be accommodated and addressed when working with clients. In order to increase the efficacy of their work, ASEP practitioners must seek to better understand the client and clarify the goal for the work. This involves establishing client characteristics and the social context in which they operate. This chapter examines the influence that social, developmental and personality factors may have on performance and satisfaction. It begins by focusing on social psychological factors, including culture, and group cohesion. Turning to developmental factors, we start with child athletes and, in exploring the ageing process, we consider those factors that influence an individual’s ability to engage in regular exercise. The final section of the chapter explores personality factors with a focus on trait approaches. As you read through this chapter, we encourage you consider your own views by completing the activity boxes provided.