- Coach criticism perceived by athletes as a threat can trigger muscle tension, which leads to performance decline and further criticism, unless athletes become aware of their threat appraisal or muscle tension and use psychological skills to regulate one or both to enhance performance.
- Certain biopsychological descriptors (e.g., pain) trigger the use of psychological skills (e.g., exercise intensity control).
- Self-control over thoughts, emotions, and behaviors affect how one performs in their sport(s).


Connecting Psychological Skills and Biopsychological Descriptors — Examples

The use of psychological skills mediates the circular relationship between external variables and biopsychological descriptors. 

Michigan State University

An athlete's ability to control and adjust some of their biopsychological descriptors, such as their breathing and heart rate, and exercise control of their emotions.

Psychological Skills in Sport Psychology

Details involving a person's observable attributes at the current moment. This may include physical observations, such as a height and weight, as well as psychological observations, such as one's emotional state and/or mental health.

Biopsychological Descriptors

Latinjak, A. T., & Hatzigeorgiadis, A. (2021). The Knowledge Map of Sport and Exercise Psychology: An Integrative Perspective. Frontiers in psychology, 12, 661824. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.661824

The Knowledge Map of Sport and Exercise Psychology: An Integrative Perspective

Connecting Psychological Skills and Biopsychological Descriptors

External variables (e.g., a repetitive task) influence how and who people are (e.g., distracted), which in turn has an impact on external variables (e.g., coach’s negative reactions), thus linking biopsychological descriptors and external variables. 


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