Psychodynamic Concepts in Sport Psychology: Comment on Strean and Strean (1998)

Abstract

Many athletes, during the course of their careers as competitors, experience performance impairment caused by psychological factors. At such times, it is important that sport psychology consultants understand these issues in order to help athletes deal with them more effectively. Psychodynamic theory is one approach that can provide a basis for obtaining this knowledge. Previous articles on this subject have addressed individual case histories and treatment of psychopathology in athletes, or the benefits of a psychodynamic perspective in understanding behavior in sport, or described particular sports from a psychodynamic viewpoint (Apitsch, 1995; Begel, 1992; Beisser, 1967; Hanna, 1993; Perry & Sacks, 1981; Sachs & Buffone, 1984; Sacks, 1980, 1990). None of these articles, however, addressed how sport psychology consultants who are not clinically trained can use psychodynamic concepts to help athletes perform better. The article by Strean and Strean (1998) in this issue, in addressing this point, opens an important dialogue.