Functional magnetic resonance imaging (FMRI) A neuroscientific imaging technique
that detects changes in the activity of the brain by measuring the amount of oxygen
brought to a particular location in it.
Goal-setting The process by which people establish targets or objectives to attain.
Grief stages model of injury reaction The theory that athletes react to injury as a form
of loss and hence go through a predictable sequence of emotions during their physical
rehabilitation process.
Grounded theory A qualitative research method that uses a systematic set of procedures
to generate a theory from the data collected.
Group (see also “team”) Two or more people who interact with, and exert mutual
influence on, each other.
Group dynamics Psychological processes that generate change in groups.
Hardy personality A set of psychological characteristics that appear to protect people
against stress by increasing their commitment to, and perceived control over, pressure
situations.
Health psychology A field of psychology that is concerned with the promotion and
maintenance of health as well as the prevention and treatment of physical illness.
Ideo-motor principle The theory that all thoughts have muscular concomitants.
Idiographic An approach in psychology that emphasises the uniqueness or individuality
of behaviour rather than its general principles.
Imagery The cognitive ability to simulate in the mind information that is not currently
being perceived by the sense organs.
Individual zone of optimal functioning (IZOF) A theory which suggests that optimal
performance in sport occurs within a unique and individualised zone of arousal for the
athlete concerned.
Internal consistency coefficient (see also “reliability coefficient”) A type of reliability
coefficient which assesses the degree to which the items of a test correlate with each
other and hence measure the same construct.
Intrinsic motivation The impetus to engage in an activity for internal rewards such as
enjoyment or satisfaction.
Inverted-U hypothesis A theory that postulates that the relationship between arousal and
performance is curvilinear and takes the form of an inverted U shape.
Ironic theory of mental control A theory which proposes that under certain
circumstances, the attempt to consciously suppress a specific thought or action can
result in an ironic rebound effect whereby that thought or action becomes even more
accessible than before.
Kinaesthetic imagery (also known as “motor imagery”) “Feeling-oriented” imagery or
the mental simulation of sensations associated with limb positions and bodily
movements.
Likert scale A numerical rating scale used in tests or questionnaires in which
respondents are required to choose a value that represents their attitude or belief
concerning a specific topic.
Mental imagery See “imagery”.
Mental practice (see also “imagery”) The systematic use of mental imagery to rehearse
an action in the mind’s eye without engaging in the actual physical movements
involved.
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