Chapter 9: Psychological Characteristics of Peak Performance – Online Nursing Essays
I’m working on a psychology question and need an explanation and answer to help me learn.
Chapter 9: Psychological Characteristics of Peak Performance
1. Think back to a time when you had a “best ever” performance. Make a list of what you were feeling and thinking, and how your body felt. Then think back to a time when you performed very poorly. Write down what you were feeling and thinking, and how your body felt at that time. Compare the two lists and develop a profile of the characteristics of your ideal mindset for performance.
2. Think of a time when you experienced flow. Remember what it was like to feel that way. Now also pay attention to the circumstances surrounding that performance: what were your goals and expectations going into the event; how were your coaches, the group, or your teammates acting; did you notice the fans, the weather, the conditions? Compare this experience to a time when you were not able to focus and could not mentally focus. Describe these 2 experiences.
3. Develop a metaphor that represents your athletic ability. Pick one skill and think about the movements and what they feel like. Then consider what symbolizes those movements. The image needs to make sense only to you. It can be an animal, something in nature, a machine, or anything else that feels right. It should remind you of what it feels like to perform really well. Describe your metaphor.
4. Reflect on a recent performance. Identify the skills you did well. What can you do to try to improve further upon these skills? Now identify two to three mistakes that you made. What would you do differently or what can you do in practice to avoid making that mistake again? Consider these as lessons learned and make a plan to improve future performances. Describe the things you can do to become more mentally tough.
5. What are the primary psychological skills that elite athletes use? What is the association between these skills and peak performance?
