Profile of Mood States (Morgan 1979)

A test designed to measure certain psychological traits.

Profile Of Mood States (POMS) is a popular tool among sport psychologists who have used it to compare the prevailing moods of elite athletes and non-athletes.

Six mood states are used; Tension Depression Anger Vigour Fatigue Confusion

Subjects are given a score for each trait according to their responses to certain statements which include key words such as unhappy, tense, careless, and cheerful.

POMS

For each statement, subjects state how they feel at that moment, or how they felt over the previous day, few days, or week, by choosing one of the following responses: not at all; a little; moderately; quite a lot; extremely

Applied to sports performers Elite athletes from different sports

tend to score below average for negative states such as tension, depression, fatigue, and confusion; and score well above average on vigour.

Applied to sports performers When presented on a graph, the

POMS profile for these elite athletes assumes a characteristic shape that has been called the ‘iceberg’ profile; the better the athlete, the more pronounced the profile (figure 53).

Iceberg Profile

Over-training

POMS may be used to diagnose overtraining because the shape of the profile becomes inverted when an athlete over-trains.

Personality Structure – Hollander (1971)

PsychologicalCore

Hollander (1971)

Psychological Core Beliefs and values that remain more or

less permanent

Typical Responses The way in which an individual

responds in certain situations Usual way we respond to the

environment. Learned & stored experience. LH Responses may indicate the nature of

the core.

Role Related Behaviour In other situations we may behave

differently Can be changed at any time

Social Environment How the behaviour and expectations of

others affect our role

Exam Questions

It was previously thought that certain personality types tended to become involved in particular sports: therefore, those participating in a triathlon may have shared common personality characteristics.

  (c) In terms of personality, explain what is

meant by trait and interactionist theories. (3 marks)

  (d) One aspect of personality is achievement

motivation. What are the characteristics of an individual with a motive to achieve success? (4 marks)

Answer…….(c) 1. Traits . innate/inherited/stable/enduring factors;2. Same personality in all situations/pre-disposition to behave

in the sameway;

Sub max 2 marks

3. Interactionist . concerned with traits;4. And interaction with the situation;5. B = f (P.E.). Sub max 2 marks3 marks

(d) 1. Seek out challenging situations;2. Concerned with high standards of performance;3. Task persistence;4. Approach behaviours;5. Enjoy evaluative situations;

Personality profiling and biomechanical analysis can be used to prepare performers who compete at the highest level. Morgan’s Profile of Mood State (POMS) is a questionnaire given to performers to establish their relative measures on the six mental health states of fatigue, vigour, tension, depression, anger and confusion.

 2a. Research has shown that the profile for POMS

differs between elite and non-elite performers. Describe these differences. (3 marks)

 b. What are the advantages and disadvantages

of using questionnaires to provide psychological information? (4 marks)

 

2 (a) 1. Elite score higher on vigour/anger;2. No difference/lower on other scores for both elite and non elite;3. Iceberg profile;4. Iceberg profile does not guarantee an elite performer 3 marks(Credit annotated diagrams showing iceberg profile) (b) Advantages 1. High researcher: respondent ratio/lots of subjects at a

time/quick/efficient;2. Cheap/cost effective;3. Numerical/objective measures achieved;4. Reliable. Sub max of 3 marks(Do not credit easy) Disadvantages 5. Weak validity/non specific/too general/too simplistic for complex

areas;6. Tendency to give expected answer/lie/respond with demand

characteristics/biased questions;7. Difficult to self-assess;8. Ambiguous questions/misinterpretation. Sub max of 3 marks 4 marks

The outcome of a sprint race may be determined by a performer’s personality and ability to overcome and generate forces to provide acceleration and maintain velocity.

The performance and behaviour of sports performers may be affected by their personalities.

  Discuss this statement, using suitable

examples, with reference to both trait and interactionist theories of personality. (7 marks)

Trait theory 1. Inherited characteristics/born with/innate/genetic;2. Stable/enduring/unchanging;3. Same behaviour in a variety of situations;4. Behaviour is predictable.5. E.g. aggressive in all situations/extrovert in all situations/etc. Sub max 4 marks Interactionist theory 6. B = f (PE)/behaviour is a function of personality and environment;7. Inherited traits are amended by environment/situation;8. Leads to stable behaviour in a certain situation;9. Change environment change behaviour.10. Eg: normally calm, but becomes aggressive in sport environment. sub max 4 marks 7 marks