4. Learning by Observing and Imagining

About this Lecture

Lecture

In this lecture, we think about the role of observational learning in sport, focusing in particular on: (i) the origins of social learning theory in the research of Albert Bandura; (ii) Bandura's ‘Bobo doll’ experiments from the 1960s; (iii) how the principle of learning by observing can be applied to sport performance; (iv) two experimental research studies which suggest that training the gaze behaviour of learners has a positive impact on the rate at which their performance improves; (v) some recent research into the relationship between mental imaging and increased sport performance.

Course

In this course, Dr Dan Bishop (Brunel University London) explores a range of topics in sports and exercise psychology. In the first lecture, we think how anxiety impacts sport performance. In the second lecture, we think about the relationship between exercise and mental health. In the third lecture, we think about the reinvestment model and its impact on decision-making. Next, we think about learning by observing and imagining. In the fifth and final lecture, we think about different psychological models of the athlete personality.

Lecturer

Dr Dan Bishop is a Researcher and Senior Lecturer in Sport & Exercise Psychology at Brunel University London, a British Psychological Society (BPS) Chartered Psychologist registered to practise with the HCPC, an Associate Fellow of the BPS, and a Fellow of Advance HE.