Matching Items (6)
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- All Subjects: psychology
Description
This project, which consists of a review article and an applied creative project, proposes mirror neurons as being a physiological mechanism for motor imagery. The review article highlights similarities between motor imagery research and research on mirror neurons. The research is roughly divided into three types of studies: neuroimaging studies, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and electromyography (EMG) studies, and electroencephalography (EEG) studies. The review also discusses the associative hypothesis of mirror neuron origin as support for the hypothesis and concludes with an assessment of conflicting research and the limitations of the hypothesis. The applied creative project is an instructional brochure, aimed at anyone who teaches motor skills, such as dance teachers or sports coaches. The brochure takes the academic content of the review and presents it in a visually pleasing, reader-friendly fashion in an effort to educate the intended audience and make the research more accessible. The brochure also prescribes research-based suggestions for how to use motor imagery during teaching sessions and how to get the best benefits from it.
ContributorsNgai, Valerie Christina (Author) / Hoffner, Kristin (Thesis director) / Glenberg, Arthur (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Nutrition and Health Promotion (Contributor) / Department of Psychology (Contributor)
Created2015-05
Description
The purpose of this thesis was to identity various sports psychology techniques utilized during the injury recovery process of an NCAA athlete. Using a qualitative approach, past research was analyzed to uncover different features of an athletic injury as well as possible intervention methods. Findings suggested that effective intervention techniques structured around the Self Determination Theory (SDT), more specifically the concept of strengthening the satisfaction of an individual's three basic psychological needs: competence, autonomy and relatedness. Following the collection of past research, a series of interviews were conducted with four practicing sports psychologists. Interview questions focused on determining possible distinctions between acute, chronic and career-ending injuries as well as intervention techniques employed. Utilizing data collected from past research as well as the interviews, an applied brochure was developed for the potential benefit of an injured athlete. The established techniques, if utilized properly, should strengthen the satisfaction of an athlete's psychological needs according to the SDT, which may ultimately foster a positive and successful return-to-sport experience.
ContributorsLieb, Juliann Rose (Author) / Heywood, William (Thesis director) / Hoffner, Kristin (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Department of Psychology (Contributor)
Created2014-05
Description
The purpose of this thesis was to identity various sports psychology techniques utilized during the injury recovery process of an NCAA athlete. Using a qualitative approach, past research was analyzed to uncover different features of an athletic injury as well as possible intervention methods. Findings suggested that effective intervention techniques structured around the Self Determination Theory (SDT), more specifically the concept of strengthening the satisfaction of an individual's three basic psychological needs: competence, autonomy and relatedness. Following the collection of past research, a series of interviews were conducted with four practicing sports psychologists. Interview questions focused on determining possible distinctions between acute, chronic and career-ending injuries as well as intervention techniques employed. Utilizing data collected from past research as well as the interviews, an applied brochure was developed for the potential benefit of an injured athlete. The established techniques, if utilized properly, should strengthen the satisfaction of an athlete's psychological needs according to the SDT, which may ultimately foster a positive and successful return-to-sport experience.
ContributorsLieb, Juliann Rose (Author) / Heywood, William (Thesis director) / Hoffner, Kristin (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Department of Psychology (Contributor)
Created2014-05
Paddle With A Purpose: A Synthesis on My Perspective on Cultivating an Intentional Life of Happiness
Description
Happiness is an enormously broad topic that has recently gained momentum in the workplace, literature, media and society. There are many interconnected topics and themes contributing to the overall state of being happy. In my book, I dive into the most important topics that contribute to daily and global happiness. Each of the following topics are explored within the evidence-based literature and juxtaposed with my own life experience and perspective. First, I will explore society’s impact on happiness. Society shapes our perspective more than we realize, so it is important to debunk what rings true to us individually and what does not. Next, I’ll share with you my favorite thing in life—gratitude. Gratitude is the easiest way to transition a negative affect into a positive state of being. In chapter three I will discuss how language and perspective shape our experiences. Word choice and self-talk are extremely impactful in your relationship with yourself and your relationship with others. Chapter four is about complaining and how it serves us and inhibits us. There are many functions to complaining, like self-awareness and enhanced interpersonal relationships as well as consequences like being a draining friend to be around. Then I’ll share about the phenomenon of emotional contagion and compassion and finish it up with the final chapter about being present and practicing happiness in our daily lives. It is most important to live a life full of intentional daily actions. The tone of my book is conversational and meant to serve as an inspirational tool to aide in achieving a happier life.
ContributorsSugarman, Cedar Gaia (Author) / Hoffner, Kristin (Thesis director) / Dawes, Mary (Committee member) / Curry Hart, Rachel (Committee member) / School of Nutrition and Health Promotion (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2017-05
Description
Mental toughness is frequently cited as a key psychological component for superior athletic performance. The purpose of this study was to determine if differences in mental toughness exist between female soccer players at different levels of collegiate competition: intramural, club, and varsity. Based on the available literature, a progressive relationship between mental toughness and level of competition was hypothesized. A total of sixty-two athletes (n=62) were recruited from the intramural, club and varsity soccer teams and administered the Sport Mental Toughness Questionnaire (SMQT). Descriptive statistics and one-way analysis of variances (ANOVA) revealed no significant differences between total mental toughness or subcategories (confidence, constancy, control) of mental toughness between athletes of different levels. Though these findings were surprising, there are several possible explanations as to why no relationship could be established. The study controlled for age and gender which may have proved to be a limitation. Other limitations included a small sample size, a brief questionnaire and the timing of the administration of the questionnaire. Future research should examine gender and sport differences in mental toughness across the three collegiate competitive levels as well as examine how/if mental toughness can change over the course of a competitive season.
ContributorsBreunlin, Lina Irene (Author) / Hoffner, Kristin (Thesis director) / Broman, Tannah (Committee member) / School of Nutrition and Health Promotion (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2016-12
Description
This review of research aimed to explore and understand the benefits of transferable life skills learned through playing sports. Life skills are internal assets, characteristics, and skills that are developed from certain experiences and are beneficial if not necessary to complete daily tasks. Life skills can further be broken down into emotional, cognitive, and social subcategories. During this review of research, it was found that participation in sports programs may enhance the acquisition or improvement of these personal assets due to the development of physical, emotional, psychological, and social aspects, which can be transferred to different areas of life, such as work, school, and family. This leads us to hypothesize that participation in sports can be beneficial when it comes to developing life skills that are used in all aspects of life. The current body of literature suggests that Youth sports should be encouraged from a young age for the obvious physical benefits and behind-the-scenes psychological benefits.
ContributorsDowell, Jett (Author) / Larson, David (Thesis director) / Hoffner, Kristin (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of International Letters and Cultures (Contributor) / School of Sustainable Engineering & Built Envirnmt (Contributor) / College of Health Solutions (Contributor)
Created2023-05