Are You an Athlete?
After a brief hiatus devoted to grading papers and posting final grades, I'm back with a question:
Are you an athlete?
Before you read on, think about it. What makes you an athlete? Or, asked differently, how did you come to adopt the identify of "athlete"?
Identification with the "athlete role" is the topic of an article in the first issue of this year's Journal of Applied Sport Psychology. Researchers looked at the way Olympic athletes incorporated athletic identity into their self-concept. Although the researchers interviewed elite athletes, some of their findings have a broader application and may be relevant to those "athletes" that do not compete at the highest levels. This is particularly true of those factors that the researchers classified as "personal factors."
One of the things that occurred for the athletes in this study was the integration of the sport-lifestyle into themselves by organizing their life around training, travel and competition. As one of the athletes in this study stated:
Another dimension that enhances identification with the athlete role is what researchers called the "bodily dimension of sport." Researchers found that the body, both in its appearance and through physical performances, contributes to self-definition as an athlete. The feeling that we are able to do things that other people are not able to do allows us to see ourselves as athletes (remember that it is estimated that 60% of American adults don't get the recommended amount of physical activity and 25% are not active at all; if your training for a sport on a regular basis you are already far ahead of the game).
A third element that contributes to one's athlete-identity is social recognition. While for elite athletes this recognition takes the form of media coverage, the basic concept of being recognized by others as an athlete is still applicable. Having others (coaches, family, friends, etc.) treat you like an athlete has a huge impact on whether or not you view yourself as an athlete. Contact with peers and teammates also contributes to this self-definition of athlete. If you hang around other runners, you are more likely to think of yourself as a runner. If your friends and you play basketball together, you are more likely to see yourself as a basketball player.
Why is all of this important?
As a sport psychologist, it is not uncommon for me to have people tell me that they can't do something (a long-distance swim, a triathlon, compete in a match or tournament) because "they aren't an athlete." If these were people who were unathletic it would be one thing, but these are typically people in great shape who train for their sport on a regular basis. There is some block in their mind (often from childhood) that prevents them from believing in their own athletic ability. They cannot see themselves as the athletes they are.
The more we identify as an athlete, the stronger our psychological investment in our sport will become.
In other words, the more we think of ourselves as athletes, the more we act like athletes and the more we act like athletes, the more we view ourselves as athletes.
The more support we get from others for being an athlete, the more we will see ourselves as athletes.
And once you recognize yourself to be an athlete, it is amazing what you can accomplish!
References:
Stephan, Y. & Brewer, B. (2007). Perceived Determinants of Identification with the Athlete Role Among Elite Competitors. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 19, 67-79.
Are you an athlete?
Before you read on, think about it. What makes you an athlete? Or, asked differently, how did you come to adopt the identify of "athlete"?
Identification with the "athlete role" is the topic of an article in the first issue of this year's Journal of Applied Sport Psychology. Researchers looked at the way Olympic athletes incorporated athletic identity into their self-concept. Although the researchers interviewed elite athletes, some of their findings have a broader application and may be relevant to those "athletes" that do not compete at the highest levels. This is particularly true of those factors that the researchers classified as "personal factors."
One of the things that occurred for the athletes in this study was the integration of the sport-lifestyle into themselves by organizing their life around training, travel and competition. As one of the athletes in this study stated:
You have to think about sport when you stand up, during the day, and when you go to bed. It's a necessity.
Another dimension that enhances identification with the athlete role is what researchers called the "bodily dimension of sport." Researchers found that the body, both in its appearance and through physical performances, contributes to self-definition as an athlete. The feeling that we are able to do things that other people are not able to do allows us to see ourselves as athletes (remember that it is estimated that 60% of American adults don't get the recommended amount of physical activity and 25% are not active at all; if your training for a sport on a regular basis you are already far ahead of the game).
A third element that contributes to one's athlete-identity is social recognition. While for elite athletes this recognition takes the form of media coverage, the basic concept of being recognized by others as an athlete is still applicable. Having others (coaches, family, friends, etc.) treat you like an athlete has a huge impact on whether or not you view yourself as an athlete. Contact with peers and teammates also contributes to this self-definition of athlete. If you hang around other runners, you are more likely to think of yourself as a runner. If your friends and you play basketball together, you are more likely to see yourself as a basketball player.
Why is all of this important?
As a sport psychologist, it is not uncommon for me to have people tell me that they can't do something (a long-distance swim, a triathlon, compete in a match or tournament) because "they aren't an athlete." If these were people who were unathletic it would be one thing, but these are typically people in great shape who train for their sport on a regular basis. There is some block in their mind (often from childhood) that prevents them from believing in their own athletic ability. They cannot see themselves as the athletes they are.
The more we identify as an athlete, the stronger our psychological investment in our sport will become.
In other words, the more we think of ourselves as athletes, the more we act like athletes and the more we act like athletes, the more we view ourselves as athletes.
The more support we get from others for being an athlete, the more we will see ourselves as athletes.
And once you recognize yourself to be an athlete, it is amazing what you can accomplish!
References:
Stephan, Y. & Brewer, B. (2007). Perceived Determinants of Identification with the Athlete Role Among Elite Competitors. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 19, 67-79.
2 comments:
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
great interesting read
Larissa says
Good thing to ponder - "I am an athlete." I like the sound of that.