PSYCH BEATS™ OVERVIEW

Dissertation Research by Derek Vigon, Psy.D.

Literature Review

Bandura (1977) coined the concept of “self-efficacy” as an individual's belief in his or her capacity to execute behaviors necessary to produce specific performance attainments. Feltz (1982) identified a correlation between self-efficacy and optimal performance. Thus a firm, well-developed, high sense of efficacy has been identified as a main factor of achieving optimal performance. Csikszentmihalyi (1990) identifies the physical and mental feeling of “flow” as necessary for athletes/performers/musicians to perform optimally.

The Tailoring of a Pre-Performance Intervention

Bandura (1997) states that “people improve and perfect their performance by seeing, hearing and feeling what they are doing.” Bandura (1997) notes a model of self-regulation implementing “individualized interventions, tailored to personal attributes and rate of progress, [which] are more effective.” PSYCH BEATS™ implements athlete-dictated and recorded self efficacy statements, paired with emotionally and psychologically arousing music as part of a pre-performance routine.

PSYCH BEATS™ is a cutting-edge pre-performance audio tool used to enhance performances.

PSYCH BEATS™

uniquely tailored to you.

Key Components

1) Positive Self Talk/self-efficacy statements (dictated by athlete) – i.e. “I believe in my ability to execute my specific job during this particular play/sequence,” etc.

2) Kinesthetic imagery – Activating specific parts of body that are necessary to optimize this part of the performance i.e., “my arms feel powerful,” “I can feel my quick feet moving laterally,” etc.

3) Proper and efficacious form during performances (tactical)– Information coming from Position Coach/ Head Coach, i.e., “I can hit early,” “my quick feet allow me to be available/ready at this spot”

4) Motivation for performing & recalling previous successful performance outcomes – i.e., Best and favorite performance in high school, at NCAA finals, College Football Playoff, etc.

5) Mindful diaphragmatic breathing – i.e., Using the breath to regulate physiological arousal/ redirect focus from external distractions back to current performance task in the moment (present process-focus versus outcome-focus)

PSYCH BEATS™ final product

Unique script content is obtained during interview with athlete. Athlete’s voice is recorded reading statements, and then paired with instrumental music of athlete’s choice, (hiphop/jazz/electronic/metal/pop etc.) mixed and mastered with ProTools HD audio software.

The final product is a confidential and portable audio clip (MP3 file) to be utilized pre-performance by athlete (at hotel or on the bus/ putting on gear/ during pre-game routine) with the hope of remembering & implementing Psych Beats mental performance content tailored to each specific performance.