Wolters, Eline (2025) The impact of psychological momentum on sports performance. Master thesis, Psychology.
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Abstract
Psychological momentum (PM) refers to the sensation of gaining or losing progress toward a goal. This study explored how the perception of catching up to or being caught up by an opponent affects cyclists' PM and power output. To investigate this, 34 endurance athletes participated in a virtual reality (VR) cycling task. Each participant completed two one-minute trials: one in which they caught up with a virtual opponent (positive momentum) and another in which they were overtaken by a virtual opponent (negative momentum). At the end of the trial, participants rated their perceived PM, confidence, and outcome expectancy, while their power output was continuously measured. Participants reported significantly higher PM, confidence, and outcome expectancy in the positive momentum condition. While the average power output did not differ significantly between conditions, exploratory analyses revealed a significantly steeper increase in effort in the negative momentum condition, suggesting possible negative facilitation or coasting effects. These findings suggest that perceived progress, rather than absolute position, shapes athletes’ psychological states during competition. Feeling like they are gaining ground boosts confidence and leads to a more favorable outcome expectancy, which can influence performance. Though limited by short trial duration and the inability to fully replicate a real race situation, this study demonstrates the value of VR race simulations for exploring and training momentum dynamics. Future research should focus on longer races and even more race-like scenarios to gain a deeper understanding of how PM unfolds in real-world contexts.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Master) |
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| Supervisor name: | Hartigh, J.R. den |
| Degree programme: | Psychology |
| Differentiation route: | Talent Development and Creativity (TDC) [Master Psychology] |
| Date Deposited: | 17 Jul 2025 09:15 |
| Last Modified: | 17 Jul 2025 09:15 |
| URI: | http://gmwpublic.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/5607 |
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