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PERSONALITYAND EXERCISE

Research Objectives of the Study of Personality

Are certain personality attributes antecedents to physical activity/exercise participation?

Do certain personality attributes develop as a consequence of physical activity/exercise participation?

Personality Defined

Underlying, relatively stable, psychological structures and processes that organize human experience and shape a person’s actions and reactions to the environment.

Structure of Personality

Personality coreTypical responses to situationsRole-related behaviors

Role-related

behaviors

Typical responses

Psychological coreInternal

External

Dynamic

Constant

Approaches to the Studyof Personality

Learning/situational approaches Behavior best explained by individual’s reaction to

the environment

Dispositional/trait theories Personality is derived from stable, enduring

attributes that lead to consistent responses over time/situations

Biological Theories

of Personality

Biological Theories

Ancient Greek theory of humorsConstitutional theory (Sheldon, 1942)

Individuals possess certain somatotypes (body types)

Trait Theories of Personality

Trait Theories

Thoughts, feelings, behavior, emanate from inside the person (not the situation)

Trait versus StateThree related theories:

1. Eysenck’s personality theory2. Cattell’s personality theory3. Five factor model

Dimensions of Eysenck’s Personality Theory

Extraversion-Introversion Neuroticism-Stability Psychoticism-Superego

Outgoing, sociable, optimistic, etcReserved, unsociable, quiet, etc

Tense, anxious, moody, etcCalm, even-tempered, etc.

Impulsive, aggressive, hostile etc.Empathetic, cooperative, altruistic

Driven by level of cortical arousal in cortex of brain

Driven by limbic system and autonomic nervous system

Driven by hormonal function

Reticular formation mediates cortical arousal

ANS drives fight or flight response Increased androgen (testosterone) and relative absence of serotonin

Introverts—higher base level activation, avoid further stimulation,

low pain tolerance

High N—more labile, longer-lasting ANS reactions

Lead to heightened aggressiveness, impersonal attitudes, and antisocial

behavior

Extroverts—lower base level activation, seek further stimulation,

high pain tolerance

High N—continues to process stressor even when it is no longer

present

Very little attention in exercise domain; can be advantageous in

certain sport situations

Eysenck’s Framework and Exercise

Extroversion: Exercise increased stimulation exercise

adoption/adherence Higher pain tolerance Preference for higher intensity activity Report lower RPE Overall, greater likelihood of PA

Neuroticism Exercise more stable, less neurotic personality

Eysenck’s Framework and Exercise

Research shows that personality can change as a result of regular physical activity:

1. exercise reduced the negative factors of neuroticism2. and enhanced the positive factors (extroversion)

Cattell’s Personality Theory

Isolated 16 personality traits that he thought were the essence of personality

16 Personality Factor questionnaire (16PF)—used in sport personality and exercise studies

Cattell’s Personality Theory

= Extraversion-introversion; = Emotionality (i.e., neuroticism)

Cattell’s Personality Theory and Exercise

Individuals who are highly fitness have lower anxiety and neuroticism; greater emotional stability, placidity, and relaxation

Individuals with lower levels of anxiety and neuroticism respond favorably to intense physical training

Cattell’s Personality Theoryand Exercise

Higher fitness lower emotionalityExercise reduced emotionality

The Five-Factor Model and Exercise Behavior

Other Personality Factors in Exercise Research

Sex-role orientation Instrumental (M) & expressive (F) types Exercise preferences

Type A behavior pattern Anger, hostility, competitiveness, achievement

striving, etc.

Type A and B Behavior Patternsand Exercise

Type A Behavior Pattern and Exercise

Exercise has been shown to be effective in reducing this behavior pattern as well as cardiovascular disease (but results of studies are not uniform)

Coronary-prone personalityAnger/hostility are important features for

increased risk of cardiovascular disease

Hardiness

“Constellation of personality characteristics that function as a resistance resource in the encountering of stressful life events”-Kobass, et. al. 1982. P. 169

Hardiness is linked to physical health (Kobass, 1979).

Higher tendency to engage in physical activity and exerciseComponents are

Highly committed, dedicated, or involved person Perceives like events as opportunities not hurdles High sense of control over events

Practical Recommendations

Individuals who seem to be more emotional/neurotic might be encouraged to begin a regular exercise program “Exercise dose” should be the same as is given to

improve fitness and encourage weight lossExercise programs should include some type

of aerobic activity: These activities seem to influence personality

factors

Personality Matching*

Individuals who do not exercise regularly are likely to experience additional challenges or obstacles when they engage in activities that require them to behave differently from their customary patterns.

Beginning exercisers have one fewer barrier to success if they choose sports and fitness programs that are highly similar to their personality profiles.

*Gavin, J. (2004) Pairing Personality With Activity. Physician & Sportsmedicine, (32), 12, 1-9.

Does Compatibility Breed adherence?

1. Greater hours of exercise participation2. Higher degree of self-esteem & positive mood

states3. Greater exercise satisfaction

Seven dimensions pertinent to activity-based analyses.

SociabilitySpontaneity (degree of predictability)Self-motivationAggressivenessCompetitivenessConcentration (mental focus) Risk taking

Does Lap Swimming Match your Personality?

Low in sociabilityLow in spontaneityHighly internalLow to moderate forcefulnessLow in competitivenessLow in focusLow in risk taking

Professional Practice

Have the client choose an activity compare it to their perceived personality traits.

Helps clients become more aware of how personal preferences correspond to different activities.

Other Personality Factors & Adherence

Explanatory Style (Pessimistic vs. Optimistic)Over-estimatorsSense of selfMalingering Athlete

Explanatory Style

Pessimistic explanatory style Personality caused:”It my own fault” Stable over time: “I’m never going to play” Global: “the rest of my life”

Health effects Immune system function Poorer health

Dispositional Optimism

Investigations are consistent Cardiovascular and, Immunological function is associated with

optimism(Peterson et.al, 1991;Scheiver & Carver, 1987)

Optimism mitigates the stress-illness relationship

Link between optimism and recovery

Studies with Injured Athletes

Athletes who are high in neuroticism and possess pessimistic explanatory style display maladaptive behavior show longer rehab or incomplete recovery Grove, Stewart & Gordon (1990) with athletes with

ACL damage Grove & Bahnsen (1997) with 72 injured athletes

Over-estimators

Athletes and heavy invested exercise clients in general perceive injury as more serious than it really is when compared to the AT or PTs perception (Crossman & Jamieson, 1985)

Over-estimators experience greater pain, more anger, withdrawal, and show slow recover.

Interventions

One-to-one visit Fear, sadness, embarrassment, guilt & anger, feelings

of being over whelmed by the demands of rehab—signs of neuroticism

Ask the “why” statement…. Insight into athlete’s explanatory style

Pay attention to the athlete or client attributional comments…..Re-attributional training

Interventions

Injured Pessimistic Athletes and exercisers usually feel helplessness and depressed. These athlete or clinet fail to follow recommended recovery

programs (especially when unsupervised). They demonstrate a lack of persistence in the face of poor or

slow progress in their recovery.Health professionals should offer advise in:

how to cope, prevent athletic or client isolation, and provide emotional support.

Sense of Self

If someone has only one basis for a sense of self, if that sense of self is threatened (injury), so will the entire person……Erikson, 1968

If the athlete’s (clients) sense of self is threatened the athlete (client) will view the injury as severe loss which results in anxiety, depression, or hopelessness (Brewer, 1993).

Sense of self is similar to self-identity!

Self-Identity

Defined as all of the people, things, and experiences that provide validation and a sense of worth (Brewer, 1993). Social relationships Career School, Sport, Exercise, Cultural activities, and etc..

Athletic Identity

If self- identity is based on one large and important piece and that piece is removed, people are left with limited avenues for satisfaction, enjoyment, and validation…

Being an athlete or highly fit person could be a major piece.

Athletic or Exercise Identity

Athletes or exercisers who are seriously involvedAthletes or exercisers who over invest in sports or

exercise involvementWhen injured these athletes or exercisers:

Lose sense of self (e.g., “If I am not an athlete, then who am I?”)

Usually experience negative rehab, lack confidence in their abilities to recover, lack motivation, experience high anxiety, and focus on injury.

What can be done?

Maintain the athlete’s or exercise identity by: Keep them involved in some form of sport or exercise

activity (cross training). Maintain their fitness level by redirecting them to

another physical area such as weight training, swimming, etc.

They need social validation by coaches and teammates if they are an athlete or other exercisers or exercise leader if they are a exerciser.

Malingerers

Athlete or client who lie about an injury to avoid practice or workout

Pathological avoidance behavior Cling to their symptoms and disabilities Mimic disorders Show pain and suffering on a moment’s notice

Need for attention but has a great fear of getting caught

What is the cause?

Behavior has been learned, adopted as acceptable, rewarded and is done willfully or habitually (Ogilvie & Tutko, 1966). History (e.g., being spoiled at an early age) Learned at an early age that the parent or coach would always

intervene or rescue them from trouble. Modeling (I.e. parent, coach, another athlete) Very fearful of being exposed and is always on guard Clings to dishonesty at all cost.

Interventions

Give strictly defined boundaries of behavior and detail the consequences when stepping outside those boundaries. Three strikes and your out!

Establish and record specific rehab goals. Agree upon times for treatment Agree on the length of the program Agree on the athlete’s or client’s responsibility

Provide rewards early in rehab then once they comply vary the frequency of giving the reward.

Summary

Personality is a difficult field of study but certain personality styles are directly, positively correlated to exercise adherence and compliance to rehab, and speed of recovery from an injury.

Newsletter Assignment

Entitle the newsletter, “Myths and Facts about Exercise.” The subtitle will reflect the topic: “The effect of exercise on one’s personality” Develop a newsletter for each topic discussing the myths or facts about the affect of exercise and

physical activity. Personality Self-concept & Self-esteem Anxiety Depression Mood Cognition

Each newsletter will inform, provide facts, and provide supportive evidence (at least 2 references). Reference need to be cited within (APA style) and at end of letter (full reference).

After each topic has been covered in class. The instructor will assign when the newsletter will be due.

Each newsletter is worth 10 points toward your assignment grade. If you fail to submit a newsletter, you will lose all the assignment newsletter assignment points for

a total of 60 points.