TY - JOUR
T1 - Effects of self-talk: a systematic review
AU - Tod, David Adrian
AU - Hardy, James
AU - Oliver, Emily Jane
PY - 2011/10
Y1 - 2011/10
N2 - This article presents a systematic review of the literature examining the relationship between self-talk and performance. Second-generation questions regarding potential mediators and moderators of the self-talk performance relationship were also examined. A total of 47 studies were analyzed. Results indicated beneficial effects of positive, instructional, and motivational self-talk for performance. Somewhat surprisingly, two evidence-based challenges to popular current viewpoints on self-talk emerged. First, negative self-talk did not impede performance. Second, there was inconsistent evidence for the differential effects of instructional and motivational self-talk based on task characteristics. Results from the mediationbased analysis indicate that cognitive and behavioral factors had the most consistent relationships with self-talk. The findings are discussed in the context of recent theoretical advances, and the article includes recommendations for future research (e.g., the use of designs allowing the testing of meditational hypotheses) and for current applied practice (e.g., avoiding the use of thought-stopping techniques).
AB - This article presents a systematic review of the literature examining the relationship between self-talk and performance. Second-generation questions regarding potential mediators and moderators of the self-talk performance relationship were also examined. A total of 47 studies were analyzed. Results indicated beneficial effects of positive, instructional, and motivational self-talk for performance. Somewhat surprisingly, two evidence-based challenges to popular current viewpoints on self-talk emerged. First, negative self-talk did not impede performance. Second, there was inconsistent evidence for the differential effects of instructional and motivational self-talk based on task characteristics. Results from the mediationbased analysis indicate that cognitive and behavioral factors had the most consistent relationships with self-talk. The findings are discussed in the context of recent theoretical advances, and the article includes recommendations for future research (e.g., the use of designs allowing the testing of meditational hypotheses) and for current applied practice (e.g., avoiding the use of thought-stopping techniques).
KW - psychological skills training
KW - mental preparation
KW - applied sport psychology
UR - http://hdl.handle.net/2160/8451
M3 - Article
SN - 1543-2904
VL - 33
SP - 666
EP - 687
JO - Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology
JF - Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology
IS - 5
ER -