Objectives: The present research sought to examine changes in psychological momentum (PM) during sport competitions through the lens of a dynamical systems approach. Design: Male regional-level cyclists competed in cycling duels on home trainers. Method: Images of moving avatars of the cyclists were projected on a wall, and were manipulated so that one cyclist was exposed to an ascending performance scenario (i.e., positive momentum) and the other to a descending performance scenario (i.e., negative momentum). Every 3 min, the cyclists answered PM items by using a keyboard that was placed on the handlebars of their bicycles. Additionally, exerted power was continuously recorded. Results: Results revealed an asymmetrical critical boundary pattern for PM perceptions indicating that negative PM was triggered more easily than positive PM. Exerted power was generally higher during the negative momentum scenario than during the positive momentum scenario. In addition, exerted power slowly decreased over both momentum scenarios, and this decrease was faster at the very beginning of the negative momentum scenario. Conclusion: Results indicate that PM perceptions possess the dynamical properties of nonlinearity and history-dependence. Moreover, the finding that exerted power was higher in the negative momentum scenario was interpreted as a resistance behavior that occurs while experiencing negative momentum. The anticipated decreases in both exerted power and PM perceptions in the negative momentum scenario converge to support the notion that negative PM is a stronger attractor than positive PM. The present study confirms that PM is a dynamical phenomenon and offers fruitful avenues for future research. Highlights: We apply a dynamical systems approach to study psychological momentum (PM). We analyze changes in PM perceptions and exerted power during cycling duels. In a negative momentum scenario, negative PM emerges with anticipation. In a positive momentum scenario, positive PM emerges with a delay. Negative PM is a stronger attractor than positive PM.
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