Scram gym was the first gym that introduced psychological talks among its members. Due to the mix of competitive athletes and recreational athletes attending this talk, I felt it was a good time to distinguish the difference between these two. Sport psychology and Exercise psychology are both subfields of psychology, but they focus on different aspects of physical activity:
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Sport Psychology:
- Focuses on the mental and emotional aspects of performance in competitive sports.
- Examines how psychological factors such as motivation, confidence, stress, anxiety, and focus influence athletic performance.
- Deals with helping athletes develop mental strategies to improve performance, cope with pressure, and overcome challenges.
- Often involves working with professional athletes, coaches, and teams to enhance performance and address issues like performance anxiety or mental blocks.
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Exercise Psychology:
- Focuses on the psychological aspects of physical activity and exercise in non-competitive contexts.
- Examines how physical activity impacts mental health, well-being, and motivation.
- Studies how people engage in regular exercise, what barriers they face, and how they can stay motivated to maintain an active lifestyle.
- It is more concerned with the mental and emotional benefits of exercise, such as reducing stress, improving mood, and enhancing overall health.
- Also includes sustainable behaviour change techniques when it comes to developing healthier relationships with food and exercise
In short, sport psychology is more performance-focused in competitive settings, while exercise psychology is about promoting and understanding the benefits of physical activity for general well-being.
