Overview

'The Roger Federer, the Steffi Graf, the Usain Bolt of all books about the psychology of sport, packed with insight and wisdom' - Brian Viner, Sports writer and author of Pele, Ali, Lillee, and Me This is the first textbook to explore and explain the contribution of social groups and social identity to all aspects of sports and exercise - from leadership, motivation and communication to mental health, teamwork, and fan behaviour. In the context of increasing recognition of the importance of group processes for athletic performance, engagement in exercise and the business of sport, this book offers a new way of understanding, researching and practicing sport and exercise psychology Written by an international team of researchers at the cutting edge of efforts to apply social identity principles to the world of sport and exercise, this will be an essential resource for students, teachers and practitioners who are keen to be at the forefront of thinking and practice.

Full Product Details

9781526488930

Table of Contents

Reviews

This first-rate volume offers a new and comprehensive approach to sport. The social identity analysis it presents systematizes a wide range of topics and disparate findings under a single theoretical umbrella. This will re-invigorate thinking and provide a guiding light for creative research and practice across many fields. An amazing must-read text that speaks powerfully to the crucial role of social identity in all facets of sport. -- Nyla R Branscombe I have loved sport all my life and written about it for much of my career. I didn't think I could ever see it anew, from a fresh perspective. But this fascinating, compelling book has enabled me to do just that, giving a truly valuable insight not just into how sportsmen and women tick, but also into what drives and shapes the multitudes who lionise them. -- Brian Viner Coming up with new ways of thinking about the psychology of sport and exercise is a challenge that we should all embrace and be excited about. Social identity research provides an opportunity for us to do just this. This volume provides fascinating insights across a number of different areas which resonate strongly with my own professional journey within high-performance sport. Its currency lies in its ability to articulate a current and authentic approach which has been overlooked in the literature. This will be a game changer. -- Ian Mitchell, PhD

Sport and exercise psychology likes its theories. Unfortunately, though, we have been a little too narrow in developing, studying and applying these. For this reason, I'm delighted to see social identity theorising given such extensive and accessible coverage in this masterful book. Through their focus on individuals as group members situated and acting within the social contexts of sport and exercise, the authors really move the field forward. This is vital if we are to properly understand and harness people's involvement in this increasingly important domain. -- Stuart Biddle This first-rate volume offers a new and comprehensive approach to sport. The social identity analysis it presents systematizes a wide range of topics and disparate findings under a single theoretical umbrella. This will re-invigorate thinking and provide a guiding light for creative research and practice across many fields. An amazing must-read text that speaks powerfully to the crucial role of social identity in all facets of sport. -- Nyla R Branscombe I have loved sport all my life and written about it for much of my career. I didn't think I could ever see it anew, from a fresh perspective. But this fascinating, compelling book has enabled me to do just that, giving a truly valuable insight not just into how sportsmen and women tick, but also into what drives and shapes the multitudes who lionise them. -- Brian Viner Coming up with new ways of thinking about the psychology of sport and exercise is a challenge that we should all embrace and be excited about. Social identity research provides an opportunity for us to do just this. This volume provides fascinating insights across a number of different areas which resonate strongly with my own professional journey within high-performance sport. Its currency lies in its ability to articulate a current and authentic approach which has been overlooked in the literature. This will be a game changer. -- Ian Mitchell, PhD

Author Information

S Alexander Haslam (Alex Haslam) is Professor of Psychology and Australian Laureate Fellow at the University of Queensland. Together with colleagues, he has written and edited 15 books and over 300 research articles and chapters. His most recent books are The New Psychology of Leadership: Identity, Influence and Power (with Steve Reicher and Michael Platow, 2nd ed. 2020) and Social Psychology: Revisiting the Classic Studies (edited with Joanne Smith, 2nd ed. 2017). He is former Chief Editor of the European Journal of Social Psychology and former President of the Psychology Section of the British Science Association. He is a recipient of the European Association of Social Psychology’s Kurt Lewin Medal for research excellence, and the International Society of Political Psychology’s Nevitt Sanford Award for contributions to political psychology. He has also received awards for distinguished contributions to psychological science from both the British Psychology Society and the Australian Psychology Society. In 2022 he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia “for significant service to higher education, particularly psychology, through research and mentoring”. Katrien Fransenis an Assistant Professor of Performance Psychology at the Department of Movement Sciences at KU Leuven. Her research focuses on how shared leadership can benefit sport team effectiveness and athlete well-being, with a particular emphasis on the role of social identity processes. Filip Boen is Professor of Sport and Exercise Psychology and Head of Department at KU Leuven. His research focuses on the psychology of sports fans and on the ways in which this is shaped by, and shapes, team-based social identities.

Tab Content 6

Countries Available