Girodo, M., & Roehl, J. (1980). Cognitive preparation and coping self-talk: Anxiety management during the stress of flying. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 46, 978-989.

Patients were found to become less-stressed if they used positive self-statements with stressful situations. The model used was:

• Ss were taught a variety of positive self-statements which focused on finding a stressor.
  
• The stressor was confronted.
  
• Positive self-statements were used.
  
• Ss were reinforced for using the statements.

Implication. Positive self-talk is a procedure that assists stress-coping. An obvious use would be to engage in it prior to the commencement of a competition as a means of handling the mounting stress of the impending contest. This article suggests an implementation model for developing this aspect of precompetition mental skills.

Return to Table of Contents for this issue.