Motivational Profiles and Psychological Skills Use within Elite Youth Sport

This study investigated associations between achievement goal orientations and reported psychological skill use in sport. Five hundred seventy three elite young athletes completed the Perceptions of Success Questionnaire (POSQ; Roberts, Treasure, & Balague, 1998 Roberts, G. C., Treasure, D. C. and Balague, G. 1998. Achievement goals in sport: The development and validation of the Perceptions of Success Questionnaire. Journal of Sport Sciences, 16: 337–347. [Taylor & Francis Online], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]) and the Test of Performance Strategies (TOPS; Thomas, Murphy, & Hardy, 1999 Thomas, P. R., Murphy, S. M. and Hardy, L. 1999. Test of performance strategies: Development and preliminary validation of comprehensive measure of athletes' psychological skills. Journal of Sports Sciences, 17: 697–711. [Taylor & Francis Online], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]). Cluster analysis revealed three distinct goal profile groups: Cluster 1—Higher-task/Moderate-ego (n = 260); Cluster 2—Lower-task/Higher-ego (n = 120); and Cluster 3—Moderate-task/Lower-ego (n = 119). A MANOVA revealed a significant multivariate effect, Pillai's Trace = .11, F(16, 1076) = 3.75, p = .001, η² = .05, with post hoc tests determining that higher-task/moderate-ego athletes reported using significantly more Imagery, Goal setting, and positive Self-talk skills when compared with Lower-task/Higher-ego and/or Moderate-task/Lower-ego athletes. These findings are discussed with respect to the potential role that achievement goals play in the application and development of psychological skills in youth sport.     

The Ethics of Spiritual Formation for a Christian Puerto Rican in a Postmodern Urban Context

This article examines the ministry-ethical implications and meanings of spiritual formation grounded in the so called ‘culture wars’ and then in light of identity, the postmodern condition and the urban context. It highlights the tensions the church faces between being conformed to the world and being conformed to the image of Jesus (Rom12:2; 8:29, NLT). It offers a critical reflection one some of the lessons that I (the author) have learned over the years and attempts to draw conclusions for Christian education and experience.     

STIGMA MANAGEMENT IN NORMAL-STIGMATIZED INTERACTIONS: TEST OF THE DISCLOSURE HYPOTHESIS AND A MODEL OF STIGMA ACCEPTANCE

This study explored the efficacy of disclosure as a stigma management strategy in normal-stigmatized interactions. A laboratory experiment was conducted using confederates to simulate three classes of stigmas. As predicted, reactions of normals (nonstigmatized subjects) were uniform across stigmas. While there is some indication that disclosure may reduce uncertainty in normal-stigmatized interactions, no support obtained for the hypothesis that disclosure about a stigma increases acceptance of the bearer. Path analysis of the data indicated a process leading from uncertainty, tension, and attraction to acceptance/rejection, as expected. Findings are discussed in terms of stigma attributions and relational development.