Laboratory Name:

Sport Psychology Laboratory

Institution: 

The Pennsylvania State University

Key Faculty:

Dr. David E. Conroy

Contact:

Dr. David E. Conroy, PhD

Department of Kinesiology

The Pennsylvania State University

266 Recreation Building

University Park, PA 16802-5701

Office: (814) 863-3451

Lab: (814) 865-7935

Fax: (814) 865-1275

email: David-Conroy@psu.edu

personal webpage: http://www.personal.psu.edu/dec9 

   Research Overview:

The three research foci of the Sport Psychology Laboratory include: (a) fear of failure (and other aspects of achievement motivation such as achievement goals), (b) modeling interpersonal processes, and (c) youth sport interventions to promote social development. Early findings from the lab established interpersonal roots for fear of failure and subsequent attention has focused on understanding how interpersonal processes operate in sport settings. Particular attention has been given to developing methods for modeling and drawing meaning from these complex processes as well as investigating the role of personality traits in regulating dyadic interpersonal behavior. “More recently we have initiated a series of randomized, controlled trials to establish whether interpersonal training interventions for youth sport coaches can promote youth development (e.g., optimal achievement motivation, self-esteem),” says laboratory director, David Conroy. “Our research agenda includes both basic and applied components and we regularly collaborate with clinical and developmental psychologists in pursuing this agenda.” Sport Psychology Laboratory research has been funded by grants from the National Institute of Mental Health and the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.

Recent Publications:

Conroy, D. E. (in press). Representational models associated with fear   of failure in adolescents and young adults. Journal of Personality.

Conroy, D. E., & Elliot, A. E. (in press). Fear of failure and achievement   goals in sport: Addressing the issue of the chicken and the egg. Anxiety, Stress, & Coping.

Conroy, D. E. & Metzler, J. N. (in press). Patterns of self-talk associated  with different forms of competitive anxiety. Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology.

Sport Psychology Lab Profiles