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A Social Identity Approach to Sport Psychology: Principles, Practice, and Prospects

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Abstract

Drawing on social identity theory and self-categorization theory, we outline an approach to sport psychology that understands groups not simply as features of sporting contexts but rather as elements that can be, and often are, incorporated into a person’s sense of self and, through this, become powerful determinants of their sport-related behavior. The underpinnings of this social identity approach are outlined, and four key lessons for sport that are indicative of the analytical and practical power of the approach are presented. These suggest that social identity is the basis for sports group (1) behavior, (2) formation and development, (3) support and stress appraisal, and (4) leadership. Building on recent developments within sport science, we outline an agenda for future research by identifying a range of topics to which the social identity approach could fruitfully contribute.

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Acknowledgments

Tim Rees, S. Alexander Haslam, Pete Coffee, and David Lavallee have no potential conflicts of interest that are directly relevant to the content of the manuscript. The contribution of S. Alexander Haslam was funded by the Australian Research Council (FL110100199). The manuscript does not contain clinical studies or patient data.

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  1. Tim Rees

    Present address: Sport and Health Sciences, University of Exeter, St. Luke’s Campus, Heavitree Road, Exeter, EX1 2LU, UK

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia

    S. Alexander Haslam

  2. School of Sport, University of Stirling, Stirling, UK

    Pete Coffee & David Lavallee

  3. Faculty of Management, Bournemouth University, Dorset House, Talbot Campus, Fern Barrow, Poole, BH12 5BB, UK

    Tim Rees

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Rees, T., Alexander Haslam, S., Coffee, P. et al. A Social Identity Approach to Sport Psychology: Principles, Practice, and Prospects. Sports Med 45, 1083–1096 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-015-0345-4

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