11- Attribution Theory Flashcards
Define attribution
A perception of the reason for an outcome of an event
-such as the reason why we won or lost
-if done correctly we can maintain motivation and task persistence
-classified by Weiner 1974 and these reasons fall into 2 sections and then 2 subsections:
•the locus I’d casualty
•the stability dimension
The locus off casualty and stability dimension
The locus of casualty- is it in control of the performer or is it out of control
The stability dimension- is it a permanent of changeable reason
Define internal attribute
-Within the performers control, for example how much effort you put in
Define external attribute
Outside the performers control such as the referee.
Define an unstable attribute
Can change in a short amount of time such as luck or the weather
Define stable attribute
-unlikely to change in a short amount of time such as the quality of the team
Weiner’s model
see book
Attribution and effort and self serving bias
- can be used to maintain motivation and task persistence using the self serving bias
Self serving bias: using external and or unstable reasons for losing
Self serving bias
- when you win it’s because of you and when you lose it’s because of someone or something else such as an external factor, being the ref or the weather
- attribution of the loss of the internal attributes does not occur, such as admitting you list because you simply didn’t have the ability or you wasn’t good enough
-weiners model helps to promote self esteem
Learned helplessness
- using internal stable reasons for losing such as “I’m not good enough and never will be”
- is when doubt in ability affects the player and confidence is lowered. Motivation is lowered and task persistence stops/drops
> this can be stopped by attributing success to internal and stable factors and by negative feedback and criticism
this can be specific e.g. squash or generally all racket sports
Attribution retraining
-changing the reasons for success and failure
> must change perceptions by using the weiner box
change in internal stable attribution to external unstable ones- don’t blame player ability, they blame luck
promotes self esteem
increased self confidence by removing learned helplessness
set achievable/realistic process a for performance goals
raise self efficacy using bandura’s model (observe, identify, reinforce, copy)
highlight previous successful performances
give positive reinforcement and encouragement
Attribution retraining
- focus on positive attribution rather than negative
- shift focus from internal to external factors
Explain how the coach of a team can use knowledge of weiners aribution theory to maintain and motivate a team following defeat (8marks)
And attribution is the perceived reason for success or failure. Weiners attribution theory splits into two sections including the locus of casualty and the locus of stability. The locus of casualty asks whether the attribute is internal such as in their control. The locus of stability is dependent on whether the attribute is stable or unstable such as an outside source, being the referee. The coach can therefore use knowledge of this theory to maintain and motivate a team player after a defeat through the use of blaming the defeat on unstable sources such as the referee or the weather conditions to maintain motivation rather than blaming the players themselves. This will help to maintain the confidence of the team which will therefore help them to train harder in their next training sessions leading up to their next match. By blaming outside sources it will encourage the team and reduce the risk of social loafing occurring and encourage them to work hard as well as attributing success to internal factors and defeat to external factors
