A Critical Introduction to Sport Psychology: A Critical Introduction

The new third edition of A Critical Introductionto Sport Psychology is the only textbook in the field that provides a detailed overview of key theories, concepts and findings within the discipline of sport psychology, as well as a critical perspective that examines and challenges these core foundations.

Fully revised and updated, the new edition covers key research findings affecting both participation and performance in sport, including topics such as motivation, anxiety, emotional coping, concentration, mental imagery, expertise and team cohesion. In addition, the book includes a range of helpful features that bring the science to life, including critical thinking exercises, suggestions for student projects and new ＂In the spotlight＂ boxes that highlight key advances in theory or practice. A comprehensive glossary is also included, whilst a final chapter examines some new horizons in sport psychology, including embodied cognition and socio-cultural perspectives.

Sport is played with the body but often won in the mind; that is the theory. A Critical Introductionto Sport Psychology is the definitive textbook for anyone wishing to engage critically with this fascinating idea.

Aidan Moran is Professor of Cognitive Psychology and Director of the Psychology Research Laboratory in University College Dublin, Ireland. A Fulbright Scholar, he has written sixteen books and many scientific papers on cognitive processes such as mental imagery and attention (including eye-tracking) in athletes. He is the Founding Editor-in-Chief of the International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology, has advised many of Ireland’s leading professional athletes and teams and is a former psychologist to the Irish Olympic Squad.

John Toner is a lecturer in sports coaching and performance in the Department of Sport, Health, and Exercise Science at the University of Hull, UK. His research and teaching interests include skill acquisition, expertise in sports performance and pedagogy in sports coaching.