What is this thing called mental toughness?an investigation of elite sport performers g raham j ones cities?
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Mental toughness is probably one of the most used but least understood terms used in
applied sport psychology. The literature includes numerous contributions dedicated to the
notion of developing mentally tough performers (e.g., Bull, Albinson, & Shambrook, 1996;
Gibson, 1998; Goldberg, 1998; Loehr, 1995), but the widely-differing definitions and result-
ing operationalization have only served to induce confusion rather than clarity. Proposed defi- nitions include: an ability to cope with or handle pressure, stress, and adversity (Goldberg, 1998; Gould, Hodge, Peterson, & Petlichkoff, 1987; Williams, 1988); an ability to overcome
or rebound from failures (Dennis, 1981; Goldberg, 1998; Gould et al., 1987; Taylor, 1989;
Tutko & Richards, 1976; Woods, Hocton, & Desmond, 1995); an ability to persist or a refusal
to quit (Dennis, 1981; Goldberg, 1998; Gould et al., 1987); an insensitivity or resilience (Al- derman, 1974; Goldberg, 1998; Tutko & Richards, 1976); and the possession of superior men-
tal skills (Bull et al., 1996; Loehr, 1982, 1995). Specifically, according to Loehr (1982), men-
tally tough athletes respond in varying ways which enable them to remain feeling relaxed, calm, and energized because they have learned to develop two skills; first, the ability to in- crease their flow of positive energy (i.e., using energy positively) in crisis and adversity, and, second, to think in specific ways so that they have the right attitudes regarding problems,
applied sport psychology. The literature includes numerous contributions dedicated to the
notion of developing mentally tough performers (e.g., Bull, Albinson, & Shambrook, 1996;
Gibson, 1998; Goldberg, 1998; Loehr, 1995), but the widely-differing definitions and result-
ing operationalization have only served to induce confusion rather than clarity. Proposed defi- nitions include: an ability to cope with or handle pressure, stress, and adversity (Goldberg, 1998; Gould, Hodge, Peterson, & Petlichkoff, 1987; Williams, 1988); an ability to overcome
or rebound from failures (Dennis, 1981; Goldberg, 1998; Gould et al., 1987; Taylor, 1989;
Tutko & Richards, 1976; Woods, Hocton, & Desmond, 1995); an ability to persist or a refusal
to quit (Dennis, 1981; Goldberg, 1998; Gould et al., 1987); an insensitivity or resilience (Al- derman, 1974; Goldberg, 1998; Tutko & Richards, 1976); and the possession of superior men-
tal skills (Bull et al., 1996; Loehr, 1982, 1995). Specifically, according to Loehr (1982), men-
tally tough athletes respond in varying ways which enable them to remain feeling relaxed, calm, and energized because they have learned to develop two skills; first, the ability to in- crease their flow of positive energy (i.e., using energy positively) in crisis and adversity, and, second, to think in specific ways so that they have the right attitudes regarding problems,
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