Critically examine the role of performance-related emotions in competitive sport.

Setting the scene:

Emotions are a central feature of many sporting events. Athletes, as well as coaches, the officiating team and supporters, can experience many emotions that range from positive to more negative experiences, for example, joy, sadness, anger, fear, anxiety, shame or guilt, and pride. Related to athletes, emotions experienced before and during competition influence performance. Research exists, that has attempted to enhance our understanding of how performance-related emotions play an influential role in the optimization of athletic performance, but also contribute to performance failure. Appropriate emotional responses have been reported to be beneficial to an athlete and can influence the positive development of other psychological constructs (e.g., enhanced confidence), whilst inappropriate responses may well result in negative psychological consequences (e.g., increase in stress, poor concentration). Therefore, effective emotion regulation is regarded by sport psychologists as an important psychological skill to develop.

Task:

A  literature review is a search and discussion of the available literature in your given subject or chosen topic area framed within relevant theory and provides a critical analysis of existing knowledge. In this case, you are required to conduct and write a 2,000-word literature review, grounded in sport psychology theory and research regarding the above title/topic[s], that critically examines the role of performance related emotions and their impact on other psychological constructs and behaviour, in competitive sport. This is an individual submission and the word limit for this assignment is 2000 words (+10% permitted).