Erika Van Dyke, CPASS sport and exercise psychology doctoral student, received the APA Division 47 Thesis Award at the American Psychological Association Convention. She presented her research project, Exploring Relationships among Self-talk and Balance Beam Performance in Gymnastics, at the APA Convention in Denver, Colorado, August 4-7.
Growing up as a gymnast, the sport became a big part of Van Dyke’s life from a young age through college as an NCAA Division I gymnast. As a high level athlete, Van Dyke incorporated self-talk into her competitive performances and became fascinated by how mental skills influence performance.
”I chose the topic for my master’s thesis research project because it will allow me to delve deeply into a topic of personal interest that might also advance the current state of the empirical literature focused on the use of self-talk in sport performance,” she said.
”I am excited and humbled to have my research project highlighted on the national stage of one of the most highly respected associations within the field of psychology,” she added. This was Van Dyke’s first time attending the event.
“The faculty members within the SEP program at WVU have a wealth of knowledge and experience. I feel extremely honored and privileged to have the chance to learn
alongside people who share a passion for the field of sport and exercise psychology,” said Van Dyke.
“I feel as though the Sport and Exercise Psychology doctoral program at WVU will be the perfect home in which to explore my future professional goals of practicing sport and exercise psychology while teaching within a college/university setting,” Van Dyke explained.
Van Dyke, 22, is from Sacramento, CA. She received a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in exercise biology, at The University of California, Davis, and a master’s degree in athletic counseling at Springfield College in Springfield, MA.