Research published in the April issue of the Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology indicates that the use of hypnosis can improve sporting performance.
In a controlled test, a group that had undergone three sessions of ego-boosting hypnosis out-performed a similar group who had just watched sporting videos.
Not only did they perform better, they actually predicted they would do so in a pre-test questionnaire.
The effects weren’t temporary either, as they repeated the feat four weeks later without further hypnosis.
The research conducted at Staffordshire University evaluated the effects of hypnosis on self-efficacy and football performance by studying the results of a wall-volley football task, which involved kicking a ball repeatedly against a zoned wall target.
Before the test, half of the study group was given a hypnotic intervention consisting of three ego–strengthening suggestions, while the other half watched edited videos of professional football games.
Each group was asked to complete a ten point questionnaire asking them to rate how they thought they would perform in the actual physical test.
The groups were then given a demonstration of the task, followed by three familiarisation sessions before undertaking the test itself.
This required them to kick a football at the target continually for 90 seconds, scoring between 10 points for a bullseye and nil for a miss
Four weeks later, volunteers from both groups repeated both the questionnaire and the wall-volley test, but without further hypnosis or video sessions.
The results showed that the hypnosis group was not only more confident in predicting ability and in performing the wall test, but also maintained that advantage four weeks later.
About the Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology
The Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology (JSEP) publishes research articles by leading world scholars that explore the interactions between psychology and exercise and sport performance, editorials about contemporary issues in the field, abstracts of current research on sport and exercise psychology and book reviews.
Frequency: Bimonthly – February, April, June, August, October and December.
In the April Issue:
Original Research
Exercise Might Be Good for Me, But I Don’t Feel Good About It:
Do Automatic Associations Predict Exercise Behavior?
Affect and Self-Efficacy Responses During Moderate-Intensity Exercise
Among Low-Active Women: The Effect of Cognitive Appraisal
Effects of Goal Orientation and Perceived Value of Toughness on Antisocial Behavior in Soccer: The Mediating Role of Moral Disengagement
The Controlling Interpersonal Style in a Coaching Context:
Development and Initial Validation of a Psychometric Scale
Detaching Reasons From Aims: Fair Play and Well-Being in Soccer
as a Function of Pursuing Performance-Approach Goals for
Autonomous or Controlling Reasons
Research Notes
Assessing the Immediate and Maintained Effects of Hypnosis
on Self-Efficacy and Soccer Wall-Volley Performance
Be Active and Become Happy: An Ecological Momentary
Assessment of Physical Activity and Mood