With the increased interest in enhanced performance and better health, it is not surprising that there would be a rash of new products and personal growth programs on the market. Several of the products/ programs are psychological in nature. These include:
1. Neuro-energenics (1940 E. CamelbackRd., Phoenix). The unit consists of a small control console attached to a headgear that looks something like designer sunglasses with small lights encircling each eye. The machine works by delivering magnetic, sound, or light pulses in a narrow band of frequencies (8-12 Hz or an “alpha” range associated with a relaxed state) that overlap the brain’s operating frequencies. The idea is that the brain “quickly and effortlessly paces itself with the pulsed frequency of the machine.” This is purported to result in a state of deep relaxation, enhanced creative thinking as well as improved memory and learning ability. It is believed that this equipment will promote relaxation, creative thinking, and learning better than less expensive training techniques. According to the directions, “you sit down in a comfortable chair, don the electrical headgear, flip a switch on the small control console by your hand, close your eyes, and sink into a state of deep relaxation.” After enjoying the light show and sounds for about a half hour, you turn off the machine and remove the headgear. At this point you are supposed to “feel extremely alert and lucid. Your brain is now functioning far more effectively than it was before. The speed with which your brain cells pass messages among themselves has increased.”
Retail Price: $700
2. Expert Learning Technology (SyberVision, 7133 Koll Center Parkway, Pleasanton, CA). The brochure indicates that the SyberVision video-based sports-training programs (i.e., golf, skiing, tennis, racquetball, baseball, bowling, and self-defense/martial arts) are complete learning systems that teach you the skills of a movement, the strategies of competition, the psychology of performance, and the biomechanics of perfect form. In other words, you can learn these skills without having to physically practice them and without breaking a sweat. For example, you observe a video of the performance of a well-known athlete (i.e., Patty Sheehan, Al Geiberger, Jean-Claude Killy, Stan Smith, etc ). The performance is seen repetitively from different viewing angles and at normal and slow motion speeds. After viewing the expert model for 30-40 minutes, the video is turned off and you then close your eyes and imagine yourself performing in the same way as the model. You also listen to an audiotape that gives several tips by the model on psychological strategies for effective performance. SyberVision tapes are supposedly based on “neuropsychology” principles—the science that studies how our thoughts influence our behavior and body. The animal research of Dr. Karl Pribram (Stanford Univ.) is used to support the logic behind SyberVision’s science of learning based on role modeling. According to SyberVision literature, “in a four-step process, we find models who have achieved dramatic success in skill or behavioral area: we identify the characteristics that have made them successful; we create an easy-to-follow system for developing these characteristics; and we show you how to apply this system to become more like the model—thus reaching your goals.” Numerous testimonials are provided in the brochure (e.g., “Largely because of the [women’s golf] tape, I broke 90 for the first time in 25 years.” Jayne S. Freeman, Buffalo, NY).
Retail Cost: $89.95 for each videotape package.
3. Flotation Tank. This is an approximately 8-ft. long chamber that is about one-third full of salt water. It is totally enclosed and equipped with stereo speakers. The idea is that you are floating in a darkened chamber, and except for the music, it is devoid of sensory stimulation. It is believed that this experience is therapeutic, promoting a relaxation response that is superior to other, less expensive relaxation techniques. It is also used to practice imagery and learning of skill patterns (e.g., plays) and strategies.
Retail Price: $10,000
4. Camps Featuring Outdoor Experiences (SportsMind, Seattle, WA). This is a type of motivational training program featuring one-week camps with challenging, outdoor experiences. The intense physical and psychological experiences include 15 hours each day of aerobic exercise, teamwork experiences, and discussions of the role of individual integrity, honesty, and choice in the workplace. Participants are encouraged to improve their nutrition (i.e., more carbohydrates relative to proteins and fats), health, and fitness. The highlight of the program is the one afternoon of physically and psychologically intense outdoor experiences. These consist of a backward “thrust-fall” from a 5-6 ft. platform into the arms of fellow participants or negotiating “rope courses” 20 to 40 ft above the ground while connected to a “sporting belt.” Experiences like these are designed to challenge participants to “do more than they thought they could, and after that they’re exhilarated.” It is believed that experiences like these carry over to better performance in the workplace “Companies are looking for ways to increase the level of trust, honesty, and openness in communication, and improve the ability of people to work together and solve problems under pressure.” So far, the evidence for its effectiveness is purely anecdotal, testimonials. For example, in one survey 80% of employees participating in this program related the personal value of the program to be extraordinary to very high.
Retail Price: $1,500 for each participant
Consider for
a moment that you are a coach in a school district that has money to spend
on equipment or programs which could enhance performance or promote beneficial
psychological characteristics in your athletes. In advance of the promoters
of these products coming to you, you read over the available literature
on the product (see above). You want to spend your money wisely on something
that will work to produce a lasting beneficial affect on athletic performance.
You are cautious and do not want to make a mistake for fear that you will
forever be on the bad side of your athletic director. You attempt to think
through the kind of questions you want the vendor to address to convince
you whether or not this product will actually do what you want it to do.
Let’s assume that the equipment or programs are reasonably priced and the
equipment is well constructed and will last a long time. Focus instead
on whether the product will actually do what it claims to do (i.e., produce
relaxation better than less expensive techniques, improve learning and
memory, improve employee cohesion and openness/honesty in communication,
etc.). For instance, what type of evidence are you willing to accept?
What would it take to convince you that you should spend the money?
After roughing out your answer, transfer it to one side of an 8.5” x 11
“ piece of paper. This should be written or printed very legibly in your
own handwriting (no typing).
MICROTHEME 2
You are a sport psychologist who has been working
with a well-known collegiate football player. This star athlete is a field
goal kicker and is currently leading the nation in percentage of completed
field goals. He has aspirations of being drafted into the professional
ranks and it is obvious that the pros are interested in him. You have basically
been providing him with imagery and relaxation techniques so he could gain
more consistent composure prior to his kicking field goals. He really
likes the sport psychology techniques he has been using. In fact, he is
so enthusiastic that he has wanted to mention this to the sports reporters
on numerous occasions. He has hesitated to do this, however, until
he talked to you..Of course you realize that it is a free country and he
can tell the press anything he wants to. Furthermore, the American
Psychological Association ethics code does not restrict such reports as
long as the athlete is willing to have his name released (which obviously
is not a problem in this case). Considering this athlete’s long -range
career goals, what would be the pros and cons of having him tell the media
about his receiving psychological services from you? Weighing these
pros and cons, what would be your ultimate recommendation? Would there
be any conditions associated with this recommendation? Give a clearly
stated justification for your recommendation. After-roughing out
your answer, transfer it to one side of an 8.5 x 11 “ piece of paper. This
should be written or printed very legibly in your own handwriting (no typing).
MICROTHEME 3
In an intense showdown, two highly ranked baseball teams will play a three game series that will determine the league championship and who will advance to the regional championships. There has been a history of animosity between these two teams. When they played earlier in the season, there were several fights among the players and near riotous behavior among the fans. As the series will be played on your home turf, as coach you take extra precautions by increasing security to limit hostile outbursts by fans. You are pleased by the outcome of the first two games since your team has convincingly beaten the visiting team. Although your team’s performance pleases you, you are concerned that tempers are at an all-time high. Several fights had to be broken up in the first two games of this three-game series. Both benches have been merciless in shouting insults (including racial and sexual with profanity) to the members of the other team. In the third game, this behavior continues with even more intense vulgarity. It is your impression that the opposing team started the profanity and racial/sexual slurs, so it seems reasonable that your players should retaliate in kind. This dialogue continues throughout the game and the fans begin to get into it. In the sixth inning with your team well ahead, the batter from the other team who is known for his short fuse, is thrown a pitch that passes two feet behind his back. The hot- headed batter instantly puts down his bat and heads for the pitcher. Before the batter reaches the mound, one of his teammates sprints from the bench and physically attacks your pitcher. This brought most of the players off their respective benches. What ensued was the worst fight of the entire season. It took coaches and officials nearly 30 minutes to bring the situation under control. Some players were ejected from the game. The benches of both teams were cleared and play resumed with only the defensive team, the batter, and the on-deck batter allowed on the field. It was obvious that things got out of hand which ultimately was an embarrassment to your program.
In analyzing what led up to this violent outburst,
what could you (the coach) have done differently to defuse this situation?
Specifically point out how you would do things differently in future games.
Without a decline in this aggressive behavior, your team could develop
a bad reputation and your job as coach could be called into question.
After roughing out your answer, transfer it to one side of an 8.5 x 11”
piece of paper. This should be written or printed very legibly in your
own handwriting (no typing).
MICROTHEME 4
As a practicing sport psychologist, you are told by the tennis coach that Player A, with whom you have been working, has a biomechanical problem with his serve. The biomechanists have diagnosed his problem as a strength imbalance which prevents him from rotating properly. The end result is that he is not getting as much power into his serve as is needed for national caliber play. The coach knows how to correct the problem, but it might take awhile. The coach hasn’t talked to Player A yet about his problem; he first wanted to get your opinion on how this change over should be handled. Considering that the athlete knows nothing about this and a big championship that Player A has been preparing for is only two weeks away, what major considerations would you have regarding the contemplated change in technique? What would you tell the coach? What would you say to Player A? After roughing out your answer, transfer it to one side of an 8.5 x 11 “ piece of paper. This should be written or printed very legibly in your own handwriting (no typing).