The Athlete and Their Mechanisms of Defense

A Psychoanalytic Approach to Sport Psychology

This important book explores the way athletes use defense mechanisms and coping skills to manage internal and external stress faced in competitive sport. Covering case studies across various sports, the text showcases immature, neurotic and mature defences available to the athlete and describes the benefits and drawbacks of each.

This important book explores the way athletes use defense mechanisms and coping skills to manage both the internal and external stress faced in competitive sport. Covering a range of case studies across various sports, the text showcases a taxonomy of immature, neurotic and mature defences available to the athlete and describes the benefits and drawbacks of each.

A clear introductory section defines what defense mechanisms are and how they impact performance such as shame, anxiety, despair, memories of previous losses or fantasies about winning. Applying a psychoanalytic approach in line with the ideas of Sigmund Freud, Anna Freud, Fenichel, Leo Rangel, George Valliant and many others, the author uses each case study to connect the defense mechanism under investigation with the world of the athlete. Focused on delivering research-based evidence, the book helps readers deepen their understanding of the different types of defense mechanisms used by athletes across the globe, as the author explains what causes them, and recommends techniques for developing effective coping skills. Each chapter of the book also includes a reflective section that challenges the reader to think about how they can help athletes to grow and develop healthy defense mechanisms in any stage of their career.

This invaluable text is geared towards the practitioners, researchers, psychoanalysts and students in sport psychology who wish to look more deeply into why athletes struggle. It is also an ideal resource for athletes interested in understanding ways to cope with the unrelenting, exciting and at times overwhelming pressure of competitive sports.

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