Professor of Sport Psychology
Research Excellence Framework (REF) Co-ordinator
Qualifications
B.A. (Hons). Human Movement Studies
M.Sc. Sport Science
Ph.D. Sport Psychology
Academic Leadership
Research Excellence Framework Co-coordinator
Programme Director - MSc Sport Psychology
Sporting Profile
Former Competitive Swimmer
Accreditation
HPC Practitioner Psychologist
BPS Chartered Psychologist
BOA Registered Psychologist
BASES Accredited Psychologist
AASP Certified Consultant
USOC Registered Psychologist
Research Interests
Competitive Anxiety
Competition Stress
Organisational Issues
Mental Toughness
Psychological Skills
Self-Confidence
Reflective Practice
Psychology of Injury
Consultancy
Elite and Non-Elite Performers
Individuals and High Performing Team
Coaches, Managers and Organisations
Honours
AASP Fellowship
Membership of Professional Bodies
BASES
AASP
NASPSPA
BPS
ILT
E-mail address
shanton@uwic.ac.uk
Research Profile
Editorship
The Sport Psychologist - Professional Practice Editor
Editorial Board Membership
Journal of Applied Sport Psychology
Journal of Imagery Research in Sport and Physical Activity
Qualitative Research in Sport and Exercise
Advisory Board Membership
Journal of Sports Sciences
Economic and Social Research Council
Member of the ESRC Peer Review College
Edited Peer-Reviewed Research Books
Hanton, S. & Mellalieu, S.D. (Eds.). (2011). Professional practice in sport psychology: A review. London: Routledge.
Mellalieu, S.D. & Hanton, S. (Eds.). (2009). A competitive anxiety review: Recent directions in sport psychology research. Hauppauge, NY: Nova Science.
Mellalieu, S.D. & Hanton, S. (Eds.). (2008). Advances in applied sport psychology: A review. London: Routledge.
Hanton, S. & Mellalieu, S.D. (Eds.) (2006). Literature reviews in sport psychology. Hauppauge, NY: Nova Science.
Contributions to Edited Peer-Reviewed Research Books
Wagstaff, C.R.D., Mellalieu, S.D., Hanton, S. & Neil, R. (2011). Competitive anxiety symptom interpretation: Current issues and future research directions. In D. Lavallee, M. Jones & J.Thatcher (Eds.). Coping and Emotion in Sport (2nd Ed.). London: Routledge.
Hanton, S., Neil, R. & Mellalieu, S.D. (2010). Competitive anxiety theory and research. In T. Morris & P. Terry (Eds.). Sport and Exercise Psychology: The Cutting Edge. Fitness Information Technology.
Connaughton, D., Thelwell, R. & Hanton, S. (2010). Mental toughness development: Issues, practical implications and future directions. In D. Gucciardi & S. Gordon. Mental Toughness in Sport: developments in research and theory. London: Routledge.
Hanton, S., Thomas O. & Mellalieu, S.D. (2009). Management of competitive stress in elite sport. In B. Brewer (Ed.). International Olympic Committee Sport Psychology Handbook (pp. 30-42). Blackwell Publishing.
Connaughton, D. & Hanton, S. (2009). Mental toughness in sport: Conceptual and practical Issues. In S.D. Mellalieu & S. Hanton (Eds.). (2008). Advances in Applied Sport Psychology: A Review (pp.317-346). London: Routledge.
Thomas, O., Mellalieu, S.D. & Hanton, S. (2009). Stress management in sport: A critical review and synthesis. In. S.D. Mellalieu & S. Hanton (Eds.). Advances in Applied Sport Psychology: A Review (pp.124, 161). Routledge.
Mellalieu, S.D. & Hanton, S. (2008). Facilitating anxiety: Myth or mislabeled? The relationship between interpretations of competitive anxiety symptoms and positive affective states In. M.P Simmons & L.A. Foster (Eds.). Sport and Exercise Psychology Research Advances (pp 53-83). Hauppauge, NY: Nova Science.
Mellalieu, S.D., Hanton, S. & Fletcher, D. (2006). A competitive anxiety review: Recent directions in sport psychology research. In S. Hanton & S.D. Mellalieu, (Eds.), Literature Reviews in Sport Psychology (pp. 1-45). Hauppauge, NY: Nova Science.
Fletcher, D., Hanton, S., & Mellalieu, S.D. (2006). An organizational stress review: Conceptual and theoretical issues in competitive sport. In S. Hanton & S.D. Mellalieu, (Eds.), Literature Reviews in Sport Psychology (pp. 321-373). Hauppauge, NY: Nova Science.
Refereed Academic Journal Papers
Cropley, B., Hanton, S., Miles, A., & Niven, A. (2010, in press). Exploring the relationship between effective and reflective practice in applied sport
psychology. The Sport Psychologist.
Cropley, B., Hanton, S., Miles, A., & Niven, A (2010, in press). The value of reflective practice in professional development: An applied sport psychology review. Sports Science Review.
Fletcher, D., Hanton, S., Mellalieu, S.D., & Neil, R. (2010, in press). A conceptual framework for organizational stressors in sport performers. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports.
O’Brien, M., Mellalieu, S.D. & Hanton, S., (2010, in press). Goal setting effects in elite and non-elite boxers. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology.
Connaughton, D., Hanton, S., & Jones, G. (2010). The development and maintenance of mental toughness in the World’s best performers. The Sport Psychologist, 24, 168-193.
Hill, D., Hanton, S., Matthews, N., & Fleming, S. (2010). A qualitative exploration of choking in elite golf. Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology, 4, 221 - 240
Hill, D., Hanton, S., Fleming, S. & Matthews, N. (2010). Choking under pressure: A review. International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 3, 24-39.
Hanton, S., Cropley, B., & Lee, S. (2009). Reflective Practice, experience, and the interpretation of anxiety symptoms. Journal of Sports Sciences, 27, 517
Hill, D., Hanton, S., Fleming, S., & Matthews, N. (2009). A re-examination of choking in sport. European Journal of Sports Science, 9, 203-212.
Mellalieu, S.D., Hanton, S., & Thomas, O. (2009). The effects of a motivational general-arousal imagery intervention upon preperformance symptoms in male rugby union players. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 10, 175-185.
Mellalieu, S.D., Neil, R., Hanton, S., & Fletcher, D. (2009). Competition stress in sport performers: Stressors experienced in the competition environment. Journal of Sports Sciences. 27, 729-744.
Neil, R., Mellalieu, S.D. & Hanton, S. (2009). The contribution of qualitative inquiry towards understanding competitive anxiety and competition stress. Qualitative Research in Sport and Exercise, 1, 191-205.
Hanton, S., Mellalieu, S.D., Neil., R., & Fletcher, D. (2008). Competitive experience and performance status: An investigation into multidimensional anxiety and coping. European Journal of Sport Science, 8, 143-152.
Hanton, S., Neil, R., & Mellalieu, S.D. (2008). Recent developments in
competitive anxiety direction and competition stress research. International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 1, 45-57.
Hanton, S., Wadey, R., & Mellalieu, S.D. (2008). Advanced psychological strategies and competitive anxiety responses in sport. The Sport Psychologist. 22, 472- 490.
Connaughton, D., Hanton, S., Jones, G., & Wadey, R. (2008). Mental toughness research: Key issues in this area. International Journal of Sport Psychology, 39, 192-204.
Mellalieu, S.D., & Hanton, S. (2008). Hearts in the fire, heads in the fridge: A qualitative investigation into the temporal patterning of the precompetitive psychological response in elite performers. Journal of Sports Sciences, 26,811-824.
Wadey, R., & Hanton, S. (2008). Basic psychological skill usage and competitive anxiety responses: Perceived underlying mechanisms. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 79, 363-373.
Connaughton, D., Wadey, R., Hanton, S., & Jones, G. (2008). The development and maintenance of mental toughness: A qualitative examination of elite sports performers. Journal of Sports Sciences, 26, 83-95.
Mullen, R., Lane, A., & Hanton, S. (2008). Anxiety Symptom Interpretation in High-Anxious, Defensive High-Anxious, Low-Anxious and Repressor Sport Performers. Anxiety, Stress, & Coping: An International Journal, 16, 167-184.
Hanton, S., Cropley, B., Miles, A., Mellalieu, S.D., & Neil, R. (2007). An in-depth examination of experience in sport. Competitive experience and the relationship with competitive anxiety. International Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 5, 28-53.
Cropley, B., Hanton, S., Miles, A., & Anderson, A. (2007). Improving the delivery of applied sport psychology support through reflective practice. The Sport Psychologist, 21, 475-494.
Jones, G., Hanton, S., & Connaughton, D. (2007). Mental Toughness: An examination of Olympic and world champion performers. The Sport Psychologist, 21, 243-264.
Thomas, O., Hanton, S., & Maynard, I. (2007). A qualitative investigation of the temporal patterning of athletes’ precompetitive symptoms and their use of preperformance strategies: The role of facilitative and debilitative anxiety. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 19, 379-397.
Gregg, M., Hall, C., & Hanton, S. (2007). Perceived effectiveness of heptathletes’ mental imagery. Journal of Sport Behavior, 30, 398-414.
Neil, R., Fletcher, D., Hanton, S. and Mellalieu, S.D. (2007). Reconceptualising Competition Stress in Sports Performers. Sport & Exercise Psychology Reviews, 3, 23-31.
Thomas, O., Maynard, I., & Hanton, S. (2007). The effects on performance of a multimodal temporal intervention program with athletes debilitated by their preperformance symptoms. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology,19, 398-418.
Mellalieu, S.D., Hanton, S., & O’Brien, M. (2006). Performance behaviour modification as a function of goal setting strategies: A single-case design. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 39, 257-261.
Neil, R., Mellalieu, S.D., & Hanton, S. (2006). Psychological skills usage and the competitive anxiety response as a function of skill level in rugby union. Journal of Sports Science & Medicine, 5, 415-423.
Mellalieu, S. D., Neil, R., & Hanton, S. (2006). An investigation of the mediating effects of self-confidence between anxiety intensity and direction. Research Quarterly for Exercise & Sport, 77, 263-270.
Kingston, K., Horrocks, C., & Hanton, S. (2006). Do multidimensional intrinsic and extrinsic motivation profiles discriminate between athletic scholarship status? European Journal of Sport Science. 6, 53-63.
Hanton, S., & Fletcher, D. (2005). Organizational stress in competitive sport: More than we bargained for? International Journal of Sport Psychology, 36, 273-283.
Hanton, S., Fletcher, D., & Coughlan, G. (2005). Stress in elite sports performers: A qualitative investigation of competition and organizational stressors. Journal of Sports Sciences, 10, 1129-1141. I
Hanton, S., Wadey, R., & Connaughton, D. (2005). Debilitative interpretations of competitive anxiety: A qualitative examination of elite performers. European Journal of Sport Science, 5, 123-136.
Irwin, G., Hanton, S., & Kerwin, D. (2005). The conceptual process of skill progression in artistic gymnastics. Journal of Sports Sciences, 10, 1089-1099.
O’Brien, M., Hanton, S., & Mellalieu, S.D. (2005). Intensity and direction of competitive anxiety as a function of perceived control and competition goal generation. Journal for Science & Medicine in Sport, 8, 418-427.
Hanton, S., Mellalieu, S.D., & Hall, R. (2004). Self-confidence and anxiety interpretation: A qualitative investigation. Psychology of Sport & Exercise, 5, 477-495.
Hanton, S., Thomas, O., & Maynard, I. (2004). Competitive anxiety responses in the week leading up to competition: The role of intensity, direction and frequency dimensions. Psychology of Sport & Exercise, 15, 169-181.
Irwin, G., Hanton, S., & Kerwin, D. (2004). Reflective practice and the origins of elite coaching knowledge. Reflective Practice, 5, 119-136.
Mellalieu, S.D., Hanton, S., & O’Brien, M. (2004). Intensity and direction dimensions of competitive anxiety as a function of sport type and experience. Scandinavian Journal of Science & Medicine in Sport, 14, 326-334.
Thomas, O., Maynard, I., & Hanton, S. (2004). Temporal aspects of competitive anxiety and self-confidence as a function of anxiety perceptions. The Sport Psychologist, 18, 172-187.
Hanton, S., Evans, L., & Neil, R. (2003). Hardiness and the competitive trait anxiety response. Anxiety, Stress, & Coping: An International Journal, 16, 167-184.
Hanton, S., O' Brien, M., & Mellalieu, S.D. (2003). Individual differences, perceived control and competitive trait anxiety. Journal of Sport Behavior, 26, 39-55.
Fletcher, D., & Hanton, S. (2003). Sources of organizational stress in elite sports performers. The Sport Psychologist, 17, 175-195.
Mellalieu, S.D., Hanton, S., & Jones, G. (2003). Emotional labelling and competitive anxiety in preparation and competition. The Sport Psychologist, 17, 157-174.
Hanton, S., & Connaughton, D. (2002). Perceived control of anxiety and its relationship with self-confidence performance: A qualitative explanation. Research Quarterly for Exercise & Sport, 73, 87-97.
Hanton, S., Mellalieu, S.D., & Hall, R. (2002). Re-examining the competitive anxiety trait-state relationship. Personality & Individual Differences, 33, 1125-1136.
Hanton, S., Mellalieu, S.D., & Young, S. (2002). A qualitative investigation into temporal patterning of the precompetitive anxiety response and its effects on performance. Journal of Sports Sciences, 20, 911-928.
Jones, G., Hanton, S., & Connaughton, D. (2002). What is this thing called Mental Toughness?: An investigation with elite performers. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 14, 211-224.
Thomas, O., Hanton, S., & Jones, G. (2002). An alternative approach to short-form self-report assessment of competitive anxiety. International Journal of Sport Psychology, 33, 325-336.
Fletcher, D., & Hanton, S. (2001). The relationship between psychological skills usage and competitive anxiety responses. Psychology of Sport & Exercise, 2, 89-101.
Jones, G., & Hanton, S. (2001). Pre-competition feeling states and directional anxiety interpretations. Journal of Sports Sciences, 19, 385-395.
Hanton, S., Jones, G., & Mullen, R. (2000). Intensity and direction of competitive anxiety as interpreted by rugby players and rifle shooters. Perceptual & Motor Skills, 90, 513-521.
Hanton, S., & Jones, G. (1999a). The acquisition and development of cognitive skills and strategies. I: Making the butterflies fly in formation. The Sport Psychologist, 13, 1-21.
Hanton, S., & Jones, G. (1999b). The effects of a multimodal intervention program on performers. II: Training the butterflies to fly in formation. The Sport Psychologist, 13, 22-41.
Hanton, S., & Jones, G. (1997). Antecedents of competitive state anxiety as a function of skill level. Psychological Reports, 81, 1139-1147.
Jones, G., & Hanton, S. (1996). Interpretation of anxiety symptoms and goal attainment expectations. Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 18, 144-158.
Hanton, S., & Jones, G. (1995). Antecedents of multidimensional state anxiety in elite competitive swimmers. International Journal of Sport Psychology, 26, 512-523.
Jones, G., Hanton, S., & Swain, A.B.J. (1994). Intensity and interpretation of anxiety symptoms in elite and non-elite sports performers. Personality & Individual Differences, 17, 657-663.
Refereed Conference Communications
Over 150 research papers presented at national and international conferences (reference list available on request)
Post Gradate Research Supervision
Doctor of Philosophy
O. Thomas: The temporal patterning of intensity, frequency and direction dimensions of competitive anxiety. Completed 2003.
R. Neil: ReConceptualising competition stress in sports Performers. Completed 2007.
D. Connaughton: An examination and re-conceptualisation of mental toughness. Completed 2008.
D. Fletcher: An examination of organisational stress in elite sport. Completed 2008.
B. Cropley: Reflective practice and consultant effectiveness: An examination of sport psychology practice. Completed 2009.
R. Wadey: An examination of hardiness throughout the sport injury process. Completed 2009.
C. Wagstaff: Positive organizational psychology in sport. Completed 2010.
D. Hill: An in-depth examination of choking in sport. Completed 2010.
D. Ainslee: The role of social support in the stress-injury relationship. Completion 2012.
S. Lee: Effective sport organizations and stress management interventions. Completion 2012.
Doctor of Philosophy - External Programme Advisor
G. Irwin: A multidisciplinary analysis of skill development in elite gymnastics. Completed 2005.
M. Gregg: Variables moderating imagery use by athletes. Completed 2005.
I. Mitchell: Social support and psychological responses in sport-injury rehabilitation. Completed 2009.
A. Faull: An investigation of motor performance under stress: The process goal paradox. Completed 2009.
L. Williams: An investigation of mental toughness characteristics, measurement and maintenance within business professionals. DBA Programme. Completion 2012.
Enterprise and Development
Elite Performance enhancement consultant.