Branches of Psychology

Sport and Exercise Psychology

Also Known As Sport Psychology

Citation Formats

General Reference

Psychology Atlas. "Sport and Exercise Psychology." Accessed August 30, 2026. https://psychology.interactiveatlas.org/branches/sport-and-exercise-psychology.

APA Style

Psychology Atlas. (n.d.). Sport and Exercise Psychology. Retrieved August 30, 2026, from https://psychology.interactiveatlas.org/branches/sport-and-exercise-psychology

BibTeX

@misc{psychologyatlas-sport-and-exercise-psychology,
  author = {Psychology Atlas},
  title = {Sport and Exercise Psychology},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://psychology.interactiveatlas.org/branches/sport-and-exercise-psychology},
  note = {Accessed August 30, 2026}
}

Sport and exercise psychology is the branch of psychology that studies how psychological factors, such as motivation, confidence and focus, affect performance in sport and physical activity, and, in the other direction, how participating in sport and exercise affects psychological development and well-being.

Facts

Central Question

How do psychological factors affect performance in sport and exercise, and how does participation in sport and exercise affect psychological well-being? 1

Key Debate

Whether the classic inverted-U model, holding that performance peaks at a moderate level of stress or arousal, actually explains performance under pressure, or whether newer models weighing how an athlete interprets their own arousal as helpful or harmful predict outcomes better. 1

Cross-Tradition Connections