Mental toughness - Michael Sheard

Mental toughness is one of the most common terms used in sport - by athletes, coaches, spectators and the media. However, it is also one of the least understood terms. This book provides a definitive and readable overview of the area, and presents the cutting-edge research in the field of mental toughness.

The book introduces the historical and conceptual arguments behind this research, and looks at the characteristics and development of mentally tough sport performers. It suggests that mental toughness is a personality style and mindset, presenting a case for its inclusion within the positive psychological paradigm. The book also explores various measures ofthis conceptand their psychometric properties, and considers cultural and national perspectives as well as the possibility of mental toughness heredity. Sheard exposes the development and maintenance of mental toughness as a factor for successful sport and life performance, and discusses the possibilities for future research on the subject.

This book is unique in considering the idea of mental toughness as an 'achievement mindset' and is an invaluable resource for sport and exercise psychology and science students and lecturers. It also provides an important reference for sport participants, coaches, and enthusiasts.

Michael Sheard is a Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology at York St John University. His educational qualifications include a PhD in sport positive psychology. Sheard haspublished widely on mental toughness, hardiness, and positive psychology, and presented his work at conferences worldwide. Heis a Chartered Sport and Exercise Psychologist registered with the British Psychological Society.

"This book is a useful addition to the published work available to students and lecturers in higher education institutes. ...It provides additional support for the use of mental skills in the preparation of any serious athlete for competition. Reading this book should stimulate the reader to investigate the ways in which mental skills can be taught, learned, and refined now that the case for their importance has been made." - John F. Mathers, University of Stirling, in Journal of Sports Sciences

"This book makes a valuable contribution to sport psychology by providing a one-stop shop for mental toughness, but its audience is likely to be more far-reaching to include related fields such as coaching and occupational psychology." - Kate Goodger, sport psychologist, in The Psychologist

"Mental toughness is an idea whose time has come. Solidly anchored in scientific research, the book presents an overview of what mental toughness is, how to measure it, and factors leading to its development. Written in an engaging style, it is accessible to scholars and students alike."- Robert J. Vallerand, Universitdu QubecMontral

"Thisis a welcome contribution to the sport psychology literature, focusing on a topic which applied sport psychologists deal with constantly but which has rarely received specific attention in this way. This book will go a long way towards helping to correct this situation, and is written in a very accessible, no-nonsense style that I find very appealing." - John Kremer, School of Psychology, Queen's University, Belfast

"I bought Michael Sheard's book to help with my research towards a PhD. Unlike many books of this type I found it both academic and accessible. It's a great resource for students, practitioners or those with a general interest in Mental Toughness and its complexities. It is highly recommended!"-Matthew Ellis, Lecturer in Coaching, Myerscough College