Unpacking Depth Sport Psychology: Case Studies in the Unconscious

This book uses case studies to demonstrate the importance of using depth sport psychology to explore and understand athletes' unconscious feelings and fears, providing the knowledge needed to help them deal with pressures faced throughout their sporting career. It looks past the cognitive behavioral techniques currently used to aid athletes and focuses on the many ways the unconscious subtly influences athletes, offering an important paradigm shift. Case studies cover topics such as anxiety, yips, anger, guilt, perfectionism, birth order, psychological defenses, and the psychology of injury.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 152 pages
Publication date: 30 March 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This comprehensive book delves into the realm of depth sport psychology, emphasizing the significance of exploring and comprehending athletes' unconscious emotions and fears. By employing a wealth of case studies, it provides valuable insights into the importance of employing such psychological techniques to aid athletes in navigating the pressures they encounter throughout their sporting careers.

The book adopts a multidisciplinary approach, drawing upon the theories of renowned figures such as Sigmund Freud, Alfred Adler, Carl Jung, Margaret Mahler, Melanie Klein, Heinz Kohut, Donald Winnicott, and Christopher Bollas. These theories serve as a framework for understanding the intricate dynamics within the athletes' minds, shedding light on repressed feelings and psychological states.

By going beyond the conventional cognitive behavioral techniques commonly used to support athletes, this book offers a paradigm shift. It explores the myriad ways in which the unconscious subtly influences athletes, presenting a valuable perspective. The book encompasses a diverse range of athletes across various sports, showcasing how psychoanalytic techniques such as free association, the working alliance, analytic interpretations, confrontation, dream analysis, transference/countertransference, and resistance analysis are applied to athletes.

Each chapter provides detailed case studies that illustrate the practical application of these techniques. These case studies cover a wide array of topics, including the treatment of anxiety, yips, anger, guilt, and perfectionism in athletes. They also delve into the influence of birth order, psychological defenses employed by athletes, such as gamesmanship, dissociation, and humor, as well as the psychology of injury.

Unpacking Depth Sport Psychology is an invaluable resource for students, athletes, parents, professors, sport psychologists, and coaches alike. It offers a comprehensive and in-depth exploration of the field, equipping readers with the knowledge and tools necessary to enhance athletes' performance and well-being. By delving into the depths of the athletes' minds, this book empowers individuals to foster a deeper understanding of the psychological aspects that contribute to athletic excellence.

Weight: 240g
Dimension: 152 x 229 x 14 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032224046