The Problem of an Athlete’s Assertiveness and Degree of Their Self-Confidence

Abstract

In one form or another, the problem of an athlete’s assertiveness and confidence in one’s abilities and self is covered in almost any scientific theory, which directly or indirectly relates to personality. It is well-known that athletes differ by degree of self- confidence. The very concept of “confidence” exists in many languages all over the world. In some languages, there are even several words to denote it. At the same time, the concept of assertiveness concerning athlete training has been introduced only recently. Importantly, pedagogical correction of insecurities has created the basis for theoretical generalizations and concepts of self-confidence. In the 1960s, there originated the idea of confidence as a multi-faceted characteristic consisting of emotional, behavioural and cognitive components. Thus, assertiveness is a complex characteristic of an athlete’s personality which includes emotional (positive feelings when winning, self-affirmation, satisfaction with sports results), behavioural (a set of behavioural patterns that are effective in various socio-psychological situations), cognitive (self-presentation, self-concept components), as well as axiological (sociality, maturity) components. Self-confidence as a behavioural characteristic of an assertive personality is seen as one’s ability to demand and request more of oneself and others.