C.1.1SL + HL
Personality
Guiding question: Why do athletes think, feel and act differently, and can personality explain who succeeds in sport?
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C.1.1.1
Personality traits and the big five
Personality is a person's typical way of thinking, feeling and behaving, shaped by both genes and environment. Trait approaches treat it as fairly stable and assess it with validated questionnaires that people complete about themselves. The big five are openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness and neuroticism.
Match the terms
Key terms
Match each term to its meaning.
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Check yourself
Quick check
1.In the trait approach, personality is seen as
2.High conscientiousness is most closely linked with
3.Personality is best defined as
C.1.1.2 · HL only
Social learning theory
Social learning theory explains behaviour through the situation rather than fixed traits. People pick up actions, attitudes and the likely results of those actions by watching others and copying them. The more the learner admires or respects a role model, the more closely they copy them.
Match the terms
Key terms
Match each term to its meaning.
Tap a term, then tap its meaning.
Check yourself
Quick check
1.According to social learning theory, which young athlete is most likely to copy a behaviour?
2.A junior player sees a professional praised in the media after arguing with an official, and starts arguing with officials in her own matches. What does this illustrate?
3.Which statement best describes social learning theory?
C.1.1.3 · HL only
Personality can change
Over long periods, experience, coaching and reflection can gradually reshape personality. Research has not found any set of traits that reliably predicts sporting success. What an athlete actually does reflects both their traits and what they have learned from others.
Check yourself
Quick check
1.Which statement about personality and sport performance is supported by research?
2.According to current understanding, how can personality be modified?
3.Which statement about personality and sporting success is supported by research?
Practise this topic
Self-marking exam-style questions with Guide me hints and full mark schemes.
Links to other topics
- C.3How might an athlete's personality shape what motivates them?