On behalf of my Associate Editors (Prof Cathy Craig and Dr John Kremer, Queen's University, Belfast; Prof David Lavallee, Stirling University; Dr Tadhg MacIntyre, University of Ulster; and Dr Trish Gorely, Loughborough University) and International Editorial Board (see cover page for full list), I am very pleased to introduce issue 4(2) of International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology (IRSEP).
Overview of the current issue
The first paper in this issue, which is by Ian Boardley and Maria Kavussanu (both of the University of Birmingam), is a critical review of the research literature on the construct of ‘moral disengagement’ in sport. This construct refers to the volitional, selective inhibition of moral standards that deter reprehensible conduct by disengaging self-reproof in certain situations. Following a review of relevant studies, the authors outline some new directions (e.g., concerning the self-regulatory role of emotions) in this field. This paper should be of great interest to sport and exercise psychology researchers, sport scientists and developmental psychologists. The second paper is by Carolina Lundqvist (of the Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences, Stockholm) and provides a critical evaluation of the research literature on “well-being” in competitive athletes. Having identified some conceptual limitations of previous theoretical approaches to this topic, the author postuates an integrated model of well-being and identifies some potentially fruitful avenues for further research on this construct. This paper should appeal to a wide range of scholars not only in sport and exercise psychology but also in sport science and in health psychology. The third paper in this issue comes from Joachim Stoeber (of the University of Kent) and presents a critical evaluation of research on “perfectionism” in sport – a construct characterised by a striving for flawlessness, the setting of exceedingly high standards for performance and a tendency to display an excessively critical evaluation of one's performance. Arguing that perfectionsim comprises two key dimensions (perfectionistic strivings and perfectionistic concerns), the author analyses research findings on the positive and negative aspects of this construct for applied psychologists. He concludes with a summary of unresolved issues and future research directions in this field. This review will be of great interest to researchers in sport and exercise psychology as well as to collegaues in health psychology. The final paper in the present issue is by Howie Carson and Dave Collins (both of the University of Central Lancashire) and provides a critical appraisal of the research literature on the important but surprisingly neglected topic of technical change in motor control. Following a review of relevant studies, the authors proposed a five-stage model with both theoretical and practical implications. This paper will be of considerable interest to motor control researchers as well as to colleagues in sport and exercise psychology and to applied psychologists.
A note of thanks
As usual, this issue of IRSEP would not have been possible without the exceptional diligence and unstinting help of a number of colleagues. In particular, I am very grateful to Dr Kate Kirby, my Editorial Assistant, and also to my excellent and energetic team of Associate Editors (Cathy Craig, Trish Gorely, John Kremer, David Lavallee and Tadhg MacIntyre). Finally, I wish to thank IRSEP's large pool of anonymous manuscript reviewers for their assistance in evaluating the submissions that we receive.