Recently there have been suggestions from within sports psychology (e.g., Meyer & Fletcher, 2007) that there are similarities in the use of psychological tools and programs in the corporate and sporting worlds. Therefore it is somewhat surprising that despite the growing body of research supporting emotional intelligence (EI) as an important tool for identifying superior performance levels within the workplace, it is yet to be the subject of rigorous research within other performance arenas such as the sporting environment. The aim of this chapter is to explore the potential relationship between EI and sport basis of their type of sport. The chapter starts with a discussion of earlier conceptions of emotions in sport, progresses to discuss the construct of EI and then provides some empirical data assessing the utility of at least one application of EI to the elite sporting arena. Throughout the chapter we propose theoretical linkages between EI and elite sporting variables that should be the focus of future empirical research.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Abraham, R. (1999). Emotional intelligence in organizations: A conceptualization. Genetic, Social & General Psychology Monographs, 125, 209–225.
Anshel, M. (1990). Toward validation of a model for coping with acute stress in sport. International Journal of Sport Psychology, 21(1), 58–83.
Bar-On, R. (1997). Emotional quotient inventory: Technical manual, Multi-Health Systems, Toronto.
Botterill, C., & Brown, M. (2002). Emotion and perspective in sport. International Journal of Sport Psychology, 33, 38–60.
Crocker, P. R. E., & Graham, T. R. (1995). Coping by competitive athletes with performance stress: Gender differences and relationships with affect. The Sports Psychologist, 9, 325–338.
Crust, L. (2002). Emotional control: These pre-performance strategies will take control of your emotions before they take control of you. Peak Performance, 172, 1–4.
Druskat, V. U., & Wolff, S. B. (2001). Building the emotional intelligence of groups. Harvard Business Review, 79(3), 80.
D’Urso, V., Petrosso, A., & Robazza, C. (2002). Emotions, perceived qualities, and performance of rugby players. The Sport Psychologist, 16, 173–199.
Ford, M., & Tisak, M. S. (1983). A further search for social intelligence. Journal of Educational Psychology, 75, 196–206.
Gardner, H. (1993). Multiple Intelligences: The Theory in Practice. Basic Books, New York.
Gardner, L., & Stough, C. (2001). Examining the relationship between leadership and emotional intelligence in senior level managers. Leadership & Organization Development Journal, 23(2), 68–78.
Gardner, L., & Stough, C. (2002). Examining the relationship between leadership and emotional intelligence in senior level managers. Leadership and Organization Development Journal, 23(2), 68–78.
Goleman, D. (1995). Emotional intelligence, New York, NY: Bantam Books, Inc.
Goleman, D. (2001). An EI-based theory of performance. In Cherniss, C. and Goleman, D. (Eds.), The emotionally intelligent workplace, San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Greenberg, L. S. (2002). Emotion focused therapy. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Hanin, Y. L. (2000). Emotions in sport. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
Hanin Y. L., & Stambulova, N. B. (2002). Metaphoric description of performance states: An application of the IZOF model. The Sport Psychologist, 16(4), 396–415.
Lazarus, R. S. (1966). Psychological stress and the coping process. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Lazarus, R. S. (1991). Emotion and adaptation. New York: Oxford University Press.
Lazarus, R. S. (2000). Evolution of a model of stress, coping, and discrete emotions. In Rice V. H. (ed.), Handbook of stress, coping, and health (pp. 195–222). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Lavallee, D., & Wylleman, P. (Eds.). (2000). Career transitions in sport: International perspectives. Morgantown, WV: Fitness Information Technology Inc.
Leslie-Toogood, A., Martin, G. (2003). Do coaches know the mental skills of their athletes? Assessments from volleyball and track. Journal of Sport Behavior, 26(1), 56–69.
Madden, C. C., Summers, J. J., & Brown, D. F. (1990). The influence of perceived stress on coping with competitive basketball. International Journal of Sports Psychology , 21, 21–35.
Mahoney, M. (1989). Psychological performance of elite and non-elite performance in olympic wrestling. International Journal of Sport Psychology, 20, 1–12.
Mahoney, M., Gabriel, T., & Perkins, T. (1987). Psychological skills and exceptional athletic performance. The Sport Psychologist, 1, 181–199.
Mayer, J. D., & Salovey, P. (1997). What is emotional intelligence? In P. Salovey & D. J. Sluyter (Eds.), Emotional development and emotional intelligence. New York: Basic Books.
Meyer, B., & Fletcher, T. B. (2007). Emotional intelligence: A theoretical overview and implications for research and professional practice in sport psychology. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 19, 1–15.
Morgan, W. (1984). Limits of human performance. In American Academy of Physical Education Papers, No. 18, fifty-sixth annual meeting, Eugene, Oregon, July, 19–26. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
Morgan, L. (2003). Enhancing performance in sports: What is morally permissible? In J. Boxill (Ed.), Sports ethics: An anthology (pp. 182–188). Maldin, MA: Blackwell.
Nideffer, R. M., & Bond, J. (1989). Test of Attentional and interpersonal style- Cultural and sexual differences. (Manuscript to appear in Proceedings of the XXI Banff International Conference on Psychology, Sport and Health Promotion, Banff, Canada.)
Orbach, I., Singer, R., & Price, S. (1999). An attribution training program and achievement in sport. Sport Psychologist, 13, 69–83.
Orlick, T., & Partington, J. (1988). Mental links to excellence. The Sport Psychologist, 2, 105–130.
Palmer, B., & Stough, C. (2001). Workplace SUIET: Swinburne University Emotional Intelligence Test – Descriptive Report. Organisational Psychology Research Unit, Swinburne University, Australia.
Robazza, C., & Bortoli, L. (2003). Intensity, idiosyncratic content and functional impact of performance-related emotions in athletes. Journal of Sports Sciences, 21, 171–189.
Salovey, P., & Mayer, J. D. (1990). Emotional intelligence. Imagination, Cognition & Personality, 9(3), 185–211.
Schachter, S. (1964). The interaction of cognitive and physiological determinants of emotional state. In L. Berkowitz (Ed.), Advances in experimental social psychology (Vol. 1). New York: Academic Press.
Sternberg, R. J. (1997). Successful intelligence. New York: Plume.
Tett, R., Wang, A., Thomas, M., Griebler, J., & Linkovich, T. (April 4, 1997). Testing a model of emotional intelligence. Paper presented at the 1997 Annual Convention of the Southeastern Psychological Association, Atlanta, GA.
Vallerand, R. J. (1983). Attention and decision making: A test of the predictive validity of the Test of Attention and Interpersonal style (TAIS) in a sport setting. Journal of Sport Psychology, 5, 449–459.
Weinberg, R. S., & McDermott, M. (2002). A comparative analysis of sport and business organizations: Factors perceived as critical for organizational success. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 14, 282–298.
Weiner, B. 1981. A cognitive (attribution)- emotion-action model of motivated behavior: An analysis of judgments of help giving. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 39, 186–200.
Young, P. T. (1973). Emotion in man and animal. New York: Wiley, 1943.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2009 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Stough, C., Clements, M., Wallish, L., Downey, L. (2009). Emotional Intelligence in Sport: Theoretical Linkages and Preliminary Empirical Relationships from Basketball. In: Parker, J., Saklofske, D., Stough, C. (eds) Assessing Emotional Intelligence. The Springer Series on Human Exceptionality. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-88370-0_15
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-88370-0_15
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-0-387-88369-4
Online ISBN: 978-0-387-88370-0
eBook Packages: Behavioral ScienceBehavioral Science and Psychology (R0)