Performance anxiety has been studied in relation to golf performance but one phenomenon that has received scant attention is social anxiety. One potential intervention that could reduce social anxiety in golfers is rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT), a cognitive-behavioral approach for which research interest is growing. The current study used an idiographic single-case study design to assess the effects of REBT on the social anxiety of three male amateur golfers. REBT was employed both on and off the golf course to ensure integration of REBT into the golfers' performance, offering a methodological advancement of past research. Data were collected prior to, during, and after the REBT intervention. Visual analysis following single-case guidelines revealed substantial reductions in irrational beliefs and social anxiety in all three golfers. Social validation data indicated the positive receipt of REBT by the golfers, and supported the visual analysis findings. This current study supports the effectiveness of REBT and also extends the research by applying REBT in a "real-world" performance setting, offering methodological advances and providing clear implications for future research and practice.

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In this paper, we present the design, modeling and, fabrication of a soft bending actuator that combines casting techniques and additive manufacturing. We performed tests to evaluate the bending actuator’s angular deflection and tip force. We demonstrated flexibility in the process by varying the bladder material. We also showed the actuator’s resilience to damage by cutting and puncturing the exoskeleton prior to operation. Finally, we integrated the bending actuator into a three-finger gripper configuration and performed a gripping test for four different objects with various weights and shapes. Results show that the curvature and force obtained in these actuators are comparable to other proposed bending actuators with a faster and more adaptable fabrication process. With these results we demonstrate that fast, effective, and versatile fabrication of soft robotic components can be attained by combining casting and additive manufacturing techniques.

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