SOPHISTRY, SOCRATES, AND SPORT PSYCHOLOGY

It is argued that knowledge of the traditions of Western philosophy ca n play a valuable role in applied sport psychology. A contrast between sophist and Socratic ideas from Athens of the 5th-century BC is used to demonstrate the contribution a sound philosophical foundation can m ake in professional practice. Sophists are technique driven and concer ned solely with specific skills that produce successful performance re sults. Socratics, in contrast, encourage rigorous personal examination and improved knowledge of self as the only meaningful pathway to pers onal happiness. The application of each philosophy to counseling situa tions such as fear of failure and eating disorders is described, and t he potential role of philosophy and the humanities in the education of sport psychologists is discussed.