PROFILES AND PROFESSIONAL PERSPECTIVES - 10 LEADING FORMER SOVIET-UNION SPORT PSYCHOLOGISTS

The primary purpose of this study was to identify 10 leading former So viet Union sport psychologists and describe their major contributions. The investigators also desired to determine the status and future dir ections of sport psychology in Russia and the other new countries that formerly comprised the Soviet Union. Balloting for the leading sport psychologists occurred at the newly formed meeting of the Interstates Association of Sport Psychologists (IASP) and 10 persons were identifi ed: Anatoli V. Alekseev, Marina V. Ermolaeva, Leonid D. Gissen, Gennad ij D. Gorbunov, Nickolai A. Hudadov, Piotr A. Jorov, Juri A. Kolomeitz ev, Albert V. Rodionov, Vladimir R. Sopov, and Bronislav A. Viatkin. T hese individuals were subsequently interviewed and the results indicat ed that although many cutbacks have occurred during the previous decad e (1980-1990), sport psychologists continue their work. They are devel oping new and innovative ways to help athletes improve their individua l and collective performance. Their work in psychodiagnostics is exemp lary. Nevertheless, the future of sport psychology remains uncertain i n the Former Soviet Union.