Principles of Self-Talk in Sport Settings: Theory, Research, and Practice

This book examines the theory and practice of self-talk in sports performance, with a special emphasis on approaches that move beyond linear, cognitively-focused understandings of self-talk. Self-talk generally begins when children are 2-3 years of age and continues into adulthood, as people talk to themselves both internally and out loud. Self-talk has drawn the interest of sport psychology professionals, researchers, athletes, and coaches who are eager to understand the origins and correlates of self-talk, how self-talk affects them, and how self-talk can be used to enhance sport performance. Starting from a strong theoretical foundation and addressing self-talk in sport myths, this volume moves on to one of the greatest challenges in sport self-talk literature, the crisis of validity of self-talk measurement tools, and provides direction and examples of valid and reliable tools for sport self-talk research. Chapters bring together authors from diverse theoretical backgrounds and fields, and offer tools for coaches and mental health providers to measure self-talk, and examine different approaches to self-talk, including ecological and embodied cognition, and draw important links between self-talk and other areas of cognitive functioning, such as emotion regulation. 

Table of Contents:
Dedication Acknowledgements Introduction to the Volume Jordan Thibodeaux, Judy L. Van Raalte, Yani Dickens, and Andrew Vincent Section 1 Chapter 1. Self-Talk and Inner Dialogue in Context: The New Research of Self-Talk in Performers Vincent and Judy L. Van Raalte Chapter 2. From 'Inner' Game to 'Outer' Game: An Ecological Approach to Self-talk in Sport and Performance Psychology Shu Jiang and Nairán Ramírez-Esparza Chapter 3. Embodied and Ecological Approaches to Self-Talk in Sport and Performance Psychology Emily J. Oliver and Steven Jensen Chapter 4. Elaboration Likelihood Model and Self-Validation Theory: Frameworks for Understanding the Interactive Effects of Self-Talk and Non-Verbal Behavior on Sport Performance Javier Horcajo and Joshua J. Guyer Section 2 Chapter 5. Considerations for the Use of Think Aloud Within Self-Talk Research Michael McGreary, Steven Vaughan, Laura Swettenham, and Amy Whitehead Chapter 6. Self-talk and Performance in Sport Settings Erika D. Van Dyke, Yani L. Dickens, and Judy L. Van Raalte Chapter 7. Descriptive Experience Sampling (DES): A Method for Exploring Inner Experience and Self-Talk During Sport Performance Yani Dickens Chapter 8. Motor Learning-Performance and Instructional Self-Talk: Current Status and Future Directions Takehiro Iwatsuki and Judy L. Van Raalte Section 3 Chapter 9. Self-Regulated Learning for Self-Talk: Applications for Sport Learning and Performance Jordan D. Goffena Chapter 10. Self-Talk and The Development of Emotion Regulation Shannon M. Brady, Laura DeLoretta, and Elizabeth L. Davis Chapter 11. Self-Talk in Third-Wave Cognitive and Behavioral Approaches Véronique Boudreault, Frédérick Dionne, and Julie Salla Chapter 12. Volume Conclusion Yani Dickens, Judy L. Van Raalte, Jordan Thibodeaux, and Andrew Vincent About the Editors