← Physical Education syllabus

EnglandPhysical Education

Sport psychology (Area of study 3)

5 dot points across 5 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

What causes aggression in sport, and how does an audience affect performance?

Aggression and social facilitation: the theories of aggression (instinct, frustration-aggression, social learning), aggression versus assertion, and social facilitation, social inhibition and evaluation apprehension.
A focused answer to Eduqas A-Level PE on aggression and social facilitation: the instinct, frustration-aggression and social learning theories, the difference between aggression and assertion, and how an audience causes social facilitation or inhibition through arousal and evaluation apprehension.
11 min answer →

How do arousal, stress and anxiety affect performance, and how are they controlled?

Stress, arousal and anxiety: the theories of arousal and performance (drive theory, inverted U, catastrophe theory, the zone of optimal functioning), somatic and cognitive anxiety, and stress management techniques.
A focused answer to Eduqas A-Level PE on arousal, stress and anxiety: the drive, inverted U, catastrophe and zone of optimal functioning theories, the distinction between somatic and cognitive anxiety, and cognitive and somatic stress management techniques.
12 min answer →

How do groups form, cohere and perform, and what makes an effective leader?

Group dynamics and leadership: the stages of group formation, task and social cohesion, the Steiner model of group productivity and faulty processes, and styles and theories of leadership.
A focused answer to Eduqas A-Level PE on group dynamics and leadership: the stages of group formation, task and social cohesion, the Steiner model of actual versus potential productivity and faulty processes (coordination and motivation losses), and autocratic, democratic and laissez-faire leadership styles.
11 min answer →

How do motivation and goal setting drive and sustain performance?

Motivation and goal setting: intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, achievement motivation, the types of goal (outcome, performance, process) and effective goal setting using SMART principles.
A focused answer to Eduqas A-Level PE on motivation and goal setting: intrinsic and extrinsic motivation and their use, achievement motivation (need to achieve and need to avoid failure), the three types of goal (outcome, performance, process) and the SMART principles of effective goal setting.
11 min answer →

How are personality and attitudes defined, measured and changed in sport?

Personality and attitudes: trait, social learning and interactionist theories of personality, the components of attitudes, and how attitudes are formed and changed.
A focused answer to Eduqas A-Level PE on personality and attitudes: the trait, social learning and interactionist theories of personality, the triadic (cognitive, affective, behavioural) model of attitudes, and how attitudes form and are changed through persuasion and cognitive dissonance.
11 min answer →