Personality and Attitudes | Edexcel A-Level Physical Education (9PE0)
Personality and Attitudes
- 56 questions
- 4 subtopics
- Component 2: psychological and social principles of physical education
- Component 2
Personality and Attitudes is examined in Component 2, Psychological and social principles of physical education.
It covers sport psychology and the nature–nurture debate, trait theory: Eysenck and Cattell, interactionist theory and personality structure and attitudes, Wood's triadic model and cognitive dissonance.
Sample questions from Personality and Attitudes
Answer each one closed book first, then open the answer.
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Sport psychology and the nature–nurture debate
Which personality theory represents the nature view?
Show the answer
Trait theory represents the nature view. Personality is seen as a set of inborn traits that predict behaviour. -
Sport psychology and the nature–nurture debate
How can an understanding of personality help a coach?
Show the answer
A coach can match coaching style, motivation and team roles to each player. Situations that stress anxious players can be planned for. -
Trait theory: Eysenck and Cattell
How does the reticular activating system explain introversion and extroversion?
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Introverts have a highly sensitive reticular activating system, so they are easily over-aroused. Extroverts have a less sensitive system and seek stimulation. -
Trait theory: Eysenck and Cattell
How does Cattell's approach differ from Eysenck's?
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Cattell measured sixteen traits to build a detailed profile. Eysenck reduced personality to two broad dimensions. -
Interactionist theory and personality structure
Name the three levels of Hollander's personality structure.
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The three levels are the psychological core, typical responses and role-related behaviour. The core is the deepest and most stable level. -
Interactionist theory and personality structure
Why is the psychological core hardest for a coach to change?
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The core holds deep values formed early in life. Coaches have more influence over typical responses and role-related behaviour. -
Attitudes, Wood's triadic model and cognitive dissonance
How are attitudes formed?
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Attitudes are formed through experience and socialisation. Family, peers, coaches, culture and the media all shape them. -
Attitudes, Wood's triadic model and cognitive dissonance
What is cognitive dissonance?
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Cognitive dissonance is the discomfort felt when parts of an attitude conflict. Festinger proposed the idea in 1957.
The 4 subtopics
One subtopic is one session. Work down the list.
| Subtopic | What it covers | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Sport psychology and the nature–nurture debate | What sport psychologists do, the nature and nurture views of behaviour, trait, social learning and interactionist theories, the quiet player as captain, personality questionnaires and their limitations, and why profiles predict success poorly. | 13 |
| Trait theory: Eysenck and Cattell | Trait theory, Eysenck's introvert–extrovert and neurotic–stable dimensions, the reticular activating system, archery and rugby, the stable extrovert in a cup final, Cattell's 16 Personality Factors, and strengths and criticisms. | 14 |
| Interactionist theory and personality structure | Lewin's formula and interactionist theory in sport, Hollander and Martens's layered structure, the psychological core, typical responses and role-related behaviour, and the strengths, weaknesses and coaching uses of the theory. | 14 |
| Attitudes, Wood's triadic model and cognitive dissonance | Attitudes and Wood's cognitive, affective and behavioural components, how attitudes form, past experience and significant others, prejudice, cognitive dissonance with a pupil who dislikes swimming, and persuasive communication. | 15 |
How the guide is worked
Answering a question from memory stores it far better than reading the answer again. The guide runs that as a fixed procedure on one subtopic at a time, about twenty minutes a session.
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Step 1 · Closed book
Cover the answers. Work through one subtopic and write down what you can. Leave blanks where you have nothing.
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Step 2 · Open book
Go back to the top. Read each printed answer and write it out in full, including the ones you had right.
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Step 3 · Closed book again
Same questions, same order, from memory. The gap between pass one and pass three is the session result.
Read the full method, the return schedule and the research behind it.
Nearby topics
Edexcel A-Level Physical Education Active Recall Guide
Every topic, not just this one. 2,108 questions with their answers.