Toward a Theory of Emotions in Competitive Sports

Abstract

In this article, we introduce a theory on the dynamic development of affective processes, affect regulation, and the relationship between emotions and sport performance. The theory focusses on how affective processes emerge and develop during competitive sport involvement. Based on Scherer’s component process model, we postulate six components of emotion that interact with each other in a circular fashion: (I) triggering processes, (II) physiological reactions, (III) action tendencies, (IV) expressive behaviors, (V) subjective experience, and (VI) higher cognitive processes. The theory stresses the dynamics of affective processes and describes the consequences for performance in competitive sports. It assumes that the peculiarities of different sports must be taken into account in order to understand the affective processes, and offers starting points on which strategies can be used to effectively regulate affective states. Consequences for research and practice are derived and discussed. To study the development of affective processes, future research should test the assumptions in ecologically valid contexts, such as real competitions or competition-like situations, using multi-component measures of emotions.

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“…Blakemore (2019) be implemented as a new psychological approach in order to ease the regulation of different emotions during the competitions without distraction by extraneous factors. According to Jekauc et al (2021) theory, there are six ways to control emotions during sports competitions and prevent the effect. Among them: regulation of the triggering processes; usage of muscles relaxation techniques (progressive muscle relaxation); action tendencies regulation (into suitable and targeted actions); conscious choice of the way to express a desired affective state; awareness of the personal affective states; emotional regulation through the higher cognitive processes (imagination of desired states, setting and achieving goals, controlling thoughts).…”

The role of emotional convergence in sport: A scoping review.

“…Considering that situations toward the end of a competition are typically appraised as more important (Jekauc et al, 2021), it has been shown that players' affective states were easier to recognize at later phases during a competition (e.g., Fritsch et al, 2023). This result suggests that certain situational factors and associated appraisal processes may partly explain the affective dynamics during a sports competition, which is reflected, among other things, in the intensity of players' emotional expressions (Jekauc et al, 2021). Given that emotional mimicry is an important mechanism for the transfer of emotions (Hatfield et al, 2014), emotions expressed at a higher intensity may then increase the likelihood for emotions being transferred between individuals in such situations.…”

“…In this regard, it can be helpful to refer to appraisal emotion theories, postulating that appraising a situation as relevant to one's goals is an important trigger for emotions (Lazarus, 1991). Considering that situations toward the end of a competition are typically appraised as more important (Jekauc et al, 2021), it has been shown that players' affective states were easier to recognize at later phases during a competition (e.g., Fritsch et al, 2023). This result suggests that certain situational factors and associated appraisal processes may partly explain the affective dynamics during a sports competition, which is reflected, among other things, in the intensity of players' emotional expressions (Jekauc et al, 2021).…”

“…The pursuit of personally relevant goals with uncertain outcomes in sports competitions can evoke intense emotional reactions in athletes (Jekauc et al, 2021). Despite the long-standing debate about the conceptualization of emotions (for a comparison of different emotion approaches, see Gross & Barrett, 2011), most scholars agree that an emotional reaction can manifest itself in subjective experiences, physiological processes, cognitions, behavioral tendencies, and motor expressions of a person (e.g., Mauss & Robinson, 2009).…”

“…In sport psychology, the study of affective constructs is typically guided by the endeavor to better understand the factors influencing emotional processes (i.e., their antecedents), the effects emotional processes can have on performance and performance-related processes (i.e., their consequences), and the ways athletes can regulate emotions (Jekauc et al, 2021). In terms of antecedents of emotional convergence, individual differences in susceptibility to emotional convergence could explain why people are influenced differently by the emotions of others (Doherty, 1997).…”