Flexible Optimism in Golf : Does Modifying Internal, Global, and Stable Attributions during a Match Improve Performance?
出版項
2019
說明
1 online resource (92 pages)
文字
text
無媒介
computer
成冊
online resource
附註
Source: Dissertations Abstracts International, Volume: 81-04, Section: A
Advisor: Peterzell, David
Thesis (Psy.D.)--John F. Kennedy University, 2019
Includes bibliographical references
The current study investigated psychological predictors of golf scores, using both raw scores and those adjusted by handicap. First, it attempted to replicate previous reports that explicit endorsement of optimism predicts golf performance. Second, it attempted to replicate previous reports that individual differences in explanatory style predict raw scores, with raw golf scores negatively correlating with internal, stable, and global attributions (i.e., implicitly optimistic). Third, it investigated the hypothesis that lower adjusted scores are obtained by golfers with more flexible optimism, i.e., stronger adjustments throughout the round in self-reported internality, globality, and stability. Fourth, the study examined if flexible optimism increases with age, and fifth, if age and flexible optimism can both account for variability in golf performance.Fifty adult males participated while completing an 18-hole golf tournament. The Life Orientation Test-Revised was used to measure explicit, generalized optimism. A Likert scale with three Likert items was used to assess internality, globality, and stability. At the round's beginning, middle, and end, each participant reported his raw golf score, and subjectively rated his overall performance.The study replicated reports that individual differences in explanatory style predict raw scores, with lower scores obtained by golfers with higher ratings of internality and globality. Explicit optimism (LOT-R) did not correlate with golf scores. However, explanatory style (i.e., implicit optimism, reflecting an internal, stable, global attributional style), correlated with raw scores, and most strongly with adjusted scores. Shifts in internality, stability and globality did not significantly correlate with golf scores adjusted by handicap, with trends opposite those predicted by the flexible optimism hypothesis. Age was uncorrelated with flexible optimism and did not moderate between flexible optimism and either raw or adjusted score.This study confirms that explanatory style predicts golf performance, consistent with predictions of Positive Psychology. However, it shows that explicit endorsement of optimism is unrelated to this result, perhaps highlighting a difference between trait optimism and confidence at a given moment. Moreover, the flexible optimism hypothesis was not supported. Future studies of flexible optimism should disentangle the potentially beneficial effects of adjusting attributional style from other (probably detrimental) causes of attributional instability
Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, Mich. : ProQuest, 2020
