Psychological Dynamics of Physical Activity

Psychological Dynamics of Physical Activity, Fifth Edition, simplifies complex psychology topics and helps students explore practical theory as they prepare for their professional lives. With greater coverage devoted to current references and research, the updated fifth edition boasts a streamlined presentation of content that is relevant and useful in professional practice in kinesiology and physical activity settings.

Formerly titled Psychological Dynamics of Sport and Exercise, the fifth edition reflects a more encompassing approach to physical activity and draws from a wider variety of examples and scenarios. Students will be introduced to the latest developments and see firsthand how concepts apply to teaching, coaching, consulting, exercise instruction and leadership, sports medicine, rehabilitation, and athletic training environments.

The fifth edition has been updated to meet the needs of students in the current cultural moment, with greater coverage of cultural sensitivity and mental health topics. Students will be prepared to enter their careers with more awareness of stressors affecting their athletes, clients, patients, or students. The latest edition also features new tools for instructors, including chapter quizzes that are automatically graded.

Psychological Dynamics of Physical Activity, Fifth Edition, offers the following tools to support student learning::

• Throughout the text, there are introductions, chapter objectives, and key points to guide student reading.
• Students can check their understanding with summaries and review questions at the end of each chapter.
• Application points and student labs in each chapter connect content to real-world practice and feature examples from a variety of professions.

The text is organized into five parts, representing major areas of study. Part I orients students to the scope, historical development, and current approaches of sport and exercise psychology. Part II focuses on the individual, with chapters on personality, attention and cognitive skills, and self-perceptions. Part III covers motivation, with chapters on behavioral, social cognitive, and integrated approaches to physical activity behavior. The broad area of emotion and stress management is explored in part IV. Part V offers an exploration of social processes, including social development, group dynamics, and social support, and it ends with a chapter on cultural diversity and social justice, a topic that has received much attention in both research and professional practice.

Combining long-standing best practices with new research in the field, Psychological Dynamics of Physical Activity, Fifth Edition, is the premier text for students studying sport and exercise psychology as well as those studying kinesiology-related fields.