178 research outputs found
Perfectionism, achievement motives, and attribution of success and failure in female soccer players
While some researchers have identified adaptive perfectionism as a key characteristic to achieving elite performance in sport, others see perfectionism as a maladaptive characteristic that undermines, rather than helps, athletic performance. Arguing that perfectionism in sport contains both adaptive and maladaptive facets, the present article presents a study of N 5 74 female soccer players investigating how two facets of perfectionismâperfectionistic strivings and negative reactions to imperfection (Stoeber, Otto, Pescheck, Becker, & Stoll, 2007)âare related to achievement motives and attributions of success and failure. Results show that striving for perfection was related to hope of success and self-serving attributions (internal attribution of success). Moreover, once overlap between the two facets of perfectionism was controlled for, striving for perfection was inversely related to fear of failure and self-depreciating attributions (internal attribution of failure). In contrast,
negative reactions to imperfection were positively related to fear of failure and self-depreciating attributions (external attribution of success) and inversely related to self-serving attributions (internal attribution of success and external attribution of failure). It is concluded that striving for perfection in sport is associated with an adaptive pattern of positive motivational orientations and self-serving attributions of success and failure, which
may help athletic performance. In contrast, negative reactions to imperfection are associated with a maladaptive
pattern of negative motivational orientations and self-depreciating attributions, which is likely to undermine athletic performance. Consequently, perfectionism in sport may be adaptive in those athletes who strive for perfection, but can control their negative reactions when performance is less than perfect
Post Quantum Cryptography from Mutant Prime Knots
By resorting to basic features of topological knot theory we propose a
(classical) cryptographic protocol based on the `difficulty' of decomposing
complex knots generated as connected sums of prime knots and their mutants. The
scheme combines an asymmetric public key protocol with symmetric private ones
and is intrinsecally secure against quantum eavesdropper attacks.Comment: 14 pages, 5 figure
Towards understanding balancing in exertion games
Playing exertion games with others can be engaging. However, players with different physical skill levels competing against each other can experience reduced engagement because they are either not challenged enough, or challenged too much. Balancing methods can address this; however, there is only limited understanding of balancing in exertion games. In this paper, we identify two distinct dimensional balancing techniques: "internal adjustment" and "external adjustment". We report results from a study where we measured player engagement after applying these adjustments to a digital table tennis game and the traditional table tennis game, finding two disengagement factors: "unexpected physical challenges" and "unacceptable competitive advantage". Based on these factors we derived a set of exertion game design considerations. We conclude that applying digital technology to a physical game can change the required skill level to play the game, and this can affect the impact of these adjustments on player engagement. These results enhances our understanding of balancing in exertion games, supporting the benefits of playing exertion games with others
Quantum Knitting
We analyze the connections between the mathematical theory of knots and
quantum physics by addressing a number of algorithmic questions related to both
knots and braid groups.
Knots can be distinguished by means of `knot invariants', among which the
Jones polynomial plays a prominent role, since it can be associated with
observables in topological quantum field theory.
Although the problem of computing the Jones polynomial is intractable in the
framework of classical complexity theory, it has been recently recognized that
a quantum computer is capable of approximating it in an efficient way. The
quantum algorithms discussed here represent a breakthrough for quantum
computation, since approximating the Jones polynomial is actually a `universal
problem', namely the hardest problem that a quantum computer can efficiently
handle.Comment: 29 pages, 5 figures; to appear in Laser Journa
A Three-Sample Study of Perfectionism and Field Test Performance in Athletes.
Field tests are commonly used by sport scientists for performance monitoring and evaluation. While perfectionism predicts performance in a range of contexts, it is currently unclear whether perfectionism predicts performance in such tests. To address this lack of understanding, the present study examined the relationships between perfectionism and fitness-based field test performance across three athlete samples. After completing a measure of perfectionism (striving for perfection and negative reactions to imperfection), sample one (n = 129 student athletes) participated in a series of countermovement jumps and 20-metre sprint trials, sample two (n = 136 student athletes) participated in an agility task, and sample three (n = 116 junior athletes) participated in the Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test (level one). Striving for perfection predicted better sprint and Yo-Yo test performance. Negative reactions to imperfection predicted worse sprint performance. Mini meta-analyses of the combined data (N = 381) showed that striving for perfection was positively related to performance (r+ = .24), but negative reactions to imperfection was unrelated to performance (r+ = -.05). The present findings indicate that striving for perfection may predict better fitness-based field test performance, while negative reactions to imperfection appears to be ambiguous
Revisiting the exercise heart rate-music tempo preference relationship
In the present study, we investigated a hypothesized quartic relationship (meaning three inflection points) between exercise heart rate (HR) and preferred music tempo. Initial theoretical predictions suggested a positive linear relationship (Iwanaga, 1995a, 1995b); however, recent experimental work has shown that as exercise HR increases, step changes and plateaus that punctuate the profile of music tempo preference may occur (Karageorghis, Jones, & Stuart, 2008). Tempi bands consisted of slow (95â100 bpm), medium
(115â120 bpm), fast (135â140 bpm), and very fast (155â160 bpm) music. Twenty-eight active undergraduate students cycled at exercise intensities representing 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, and 90% of their maximal HR reserve while their music preference was assessed using a 10-point scale. The Exercise Intensity x Music Tempo interaction was significant, F(6.16, 160.05) = 7.08, p < .001, ηp 2 =.21, as was the test for both cubic and quartic trajectories in the exercise HRâpreferred-music-tempo relationship (p < .001). Whereas slow tempo music was not preferred at any exercise intensity, preference for fast tempo increased, relative to medium and very fast tempo music, as exercise intensity increased. The implications for the prescription of music in exercise and physical activity contexts are discussed
"Just Going Through the Motions.âŠ": A Qualitative Exploration of Athlete Perceptions of Social Loafing in Training and Competition Contexts - Implications for Team Sport Coaches
Semi-structured interviews were conducted with twenty team sport athletes representing a range of different sports with the aim of investigating their views relating to social loafing in training and competition. General themes investigated and subsequent content analysis highlighted
factors that promote or reduce the extent of social loafing. Determinants of self-loafing were grouped according to three distinct categories: Group processes; Task characteristics and Individual perceptions. Social loafing among others was perceived to be prevalent in both the training and competition scenarios with more examples of social loafing provided in the training situation. The signs of social loafing were grouped according to the
following themes: Cognitive & Emotional, Behavioural, Communication and Player Intuition. Consequences of social loafing were found to be detrimental to the effort and performance of both the individual and the team. Athletes were also able to differentiate between perceived social loafing and the perceived use of âstrategic restâ in team sports. Implications for the coaching process are far reaching with the need to develop an effective team culture and to provide training sessions that are interesting, engaging and relevant
A systematic review of interventions to increase awareness of mental health and well-being in athletes, coaches and officials
Full search for the psychinfo database. (DOCX 16ĂÂ kb
Mental fortitude training: An evidence-based approach to developing psychological resilience for sustained success
Drawing on the body of knowledge in this area, this article presents an evidence-based approach to developing psychological resilience for sustained success. To this end, the narrative is divided into three main sections. The first section describes the construct of psychological resilience and explains what it is. The second section outlines and discusses a mental fortitude trainingâą program for aspiring performers. The third section provides recommendations for practitioners implementing this program. It is hoped that this article will facilitate a holistic and systematic approach to developing resilience for sustained success
Eating disorders in sport : current status and future directions in the study of the psychological factors
Este trabalho procura atingir dois objetivos. Em primeiro lugar, apresenta-se a situação atual da investigação sobre desordens alimentares no desporto. Neste caso, salientam-se as linhas de investigação dedicadas ao estudo da prevalĂȘncia destes problemas no desporto e analisam-se as diferenças entre atletas e modalidades desportivas. Dadas as dificuldades destas linhas de investigação na compreensĂŁo dos comportamentos alimentares de risco nos atletas, sĂŁo avançadas outras possibilidades de desenvolvimento da investigação. Assim, e enquanto segundo objetivo deste artigo, salientamos a necessidade dos estudos se dirigirem para a compreensĂŁo dos fatores psicolĂłgicos associados aos comportamentos alimentares de risco e implicados no desenvolvimento das desordens alimentares. Esta abordagem tem como vantagem adicional ajudar a prevenir estes problemas atravĂ©s da promoção das competĂȘncias mentais dos atletas no sentido de resistirem melhor aos possĂveis efeitos nocivos da prĂĄtica desportiva, onde se inserem os problemas com a alimentação.This paper focuses on two main goals. In first place, we present the current status on the
research about eating disorders in sport contexts. In this case, we point out studies dedicated to the
analysis of the incidence of eating disorders in sport and studies that observe the differences between athletes and different sports in the tendency for these problems. Second, we proposed new research
directions on this subject, namely the need of analysing the psychological factors that are related with
the development of eating disorders on athletes. This research approach has the advantage of helping
the prevention of eating disorders on athletes through the promotion of psychological skills that protect
athletes from the negative effects of sport practicing, where are included maladaptive eating behaviors.(undefined
- âŠ