Mental Toughness among elite athletes
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Authors
Matheus, Juan
Issue Date
2004
Type
Thesis
Language
en
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
Athletes are always searching for different ways to enhance their performance, getting mentally tough is one of them. "Mental toughness is the outward manifestation of an inner commitment. Like self-confidence, mental toughness is a psychological muscle that is frequently under developed in the slumping athlete" (Goldberg, 1998, pp.220- 221). It has long been known that mental toughness is an important attribute, but how do athletes acquire it? Why can some athletes handle tough situations better than others? Are they born mentally tough? Or is it learned? How do athletes manifest this inner commitment? If mental toughness is like a psychological muscle that is frequently under-developed in the slumping athlete, then how is it developed? Or what do successful athletes do in order to reach their goals and optimize their performance? There are many questions that surround this topic, questions that if answered, can give us much needed insight into and a better understanding of mental toughness. An excellent method with which to explore the answers to some of these questions is by carrying out a descriptive phenomenological study that asks elite athletes to describe an athletic experience when they thought mental toughness helped. By using this method, hopefully the athletes will provide some insight to the questions previously stated; therefore expanding the understanding of what gives them an advantage over other athletes and how they cope with pressure situations. Elite athletes showcase their skills in the toughest environments, making this population ideal for describing how to handle pressure and be successful at the same time.