'The Roger Federer, the Steffi Graf, the Usain Bolt of all books about the psychology of sport, packed with insight and wisdom' - Brian Viner, Sports writer and author of Pele, Ali, Lillee, and Me
This is the first textbook to explore and explain the contribution of social groups and social identity to all aspects of sports and exercise - from leadership, motivation and communication to mental health, teamwork, and fan behaviour.
In the context of increasing recognition of the importance of group processes for athletic performance, engagement in exercise and the business of sport, this book offers a new way of understanding, researching and practicing sport and exercise psychology
Written by an international team of researchers at the cutting edge of efforts to apply social identity principles to the world of sport and exercise, this will be an essential resource for students, teachers and practitioners who are keen to be at the forefront of thinking and practice.
Industry Reviews
Coming up with new ways of thinking about the psychology of sport and exercise is a challenge that we should all embrace and be excited about. Social identity research provides an opportunity for us to do just this. This volume provides fascinating insights across a number of different areas which resonate strongly with my own professional journey within high-performance sport. Its currency lies in its ability to articulate a current and authentic approach which has been overlooked in the literature. This will be a game changer. -- Ian Mitchell, PhD I have loved sport all my life and written about it for much of my career. I didn't think I could ever see it anew, from a fresh perspective. But this fascinating, compelling book has enabled me to do just that, giving a truly valuable insight not just into how sportsmen and women tick, but also into what drives and shapes the multitudes who lionise them. -- Brian Viner This first-rate volume offers a new and comprehensive approach to sport. The social identity analysis it presents systematizes a wide range of topics and disparate findings under a single theoretical umbrella. This will re-invigorate thinking and provide a guiding light for creative research and practice across many fields. An amazing must-read text that speaks powerfully to the crucial role of social identity in all facets of sport. -- Nyla R Branscombe Sport and exercise psychology likes its theories. Unfortunately, though, we have been a little too narrow in developing, studying and applying these. For this reason, I'm delighted to see social identity theorising given such extensive and accessible coverage in this masterful book. Through their focus on individuals as group members situated and acting within the social contexts of sport and exercise, the authors really move the field forward. This is vital if we are to properly understand and harness people's involvement in this increasingly important domain. -- Stuart Biddle Leans toward being a recruitment drive for future research with each chapter listing areas for future consideration. It is this contributory yet collaborative tone that sets this book apart from the pack and adds something special to the sport and exercise psychology space. -- Toby Richards and Dr Sean Figgins * The Psychologist * Providing the clearest framework to date on how best to utilise social identity approaches to sport and exercise, the book opens up a communication channel for scholars trained in sport and exercise and social psychologists to develop unique collaborations to further test social identity approaches, in as real-world a context as one could get. -- Dr Gareth Hall * The Psychologist *
