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Abstract
Evidence is growing that perceived social support, more often than actually received support, is an important contributor to health and personal adjustment. Perceived support may also play a role in performance. People high in social support report experiencing less cognitive interference than do those with lower levels of perceived support. This article describes two concepts that are linked with perceived support and that relate to skill development and performance: (1) the sense of support and (2) the sense of acceptance. A description of the ways in which these concepts influence exploratory behavior, reasonable risk-taking, the sense of personal control and performance level is provided. Examples of applications of this analysis to sports are given and the need for research on the supportive aspects of coaches' behavior and team cohesion is identified.
“It is not so much friends' help that helps us as the confident knowledge that they will help us.” Epicurus 13th Century B.C.