Attribution Flashcards
What is the attribution theory?
Why is attribution important?
Attribution Theory is linked to motivation, and explains the reasons individuals provide for winning, losing and drawing
They are important as they affect motivation and self-confidence, which in turn affects performance and future effort.
What is locus of control?
what is external and external control?
Considers the extent to which an outcome is under control or uncontrollable.
INTERNAL or Controllable attributions are under the control of the performer or something can be done to change the outcome.
EXTERNAL or Uncontrollable attributions are when nothing can be done to change the outcome or are under no one’s control.
What is stability in terms of control?
what are the two types?
describes how changeable a factor is in the short term
stable
unstable
what is the impact of attributing failure to external causes?
Sustains confidence, self-esteem
Reassures success is possible in the future
Maintains motivation
Takes away the responsibility for failure
what is the impact of attributing success to internal causes?
Elevates confidence & pride
Endorses expectations of achievement
Used to reinforce success
What do low achievers attribute themselves too?
Demonstrate avoidance behaviour
Attribute success to external factors such as luck
Incentive task value of success is derived
No benefits to confidence/motivation
Attribute failure to internal factors such as ability
Repeated failure therefore results in learned helplessness
What is learned helplessness?
The belief that failure is inevitable and the individual has no control over the factors that cause failure.
what is the impact of learned helplessness?
if the situation is out of your control, this can significantly lower confidence, motivation & emotions.
what are need to achieve performers?
Need to Achieve (Nach) performers are not afraid of failing and will attribute failure to controllable unstable factors.
what is controllability?
controllability takes into consideration whether or not each of the attributions is controllable or uncontrollable.
what is Attribution retraining?
Attribution retraining is changing someone’s beliefs for success or failure and can help change learned helplessness into mastery orientation.
what is self serving bias?
Sports performers who lose tend to attribute their failure to external causes such as….coaching, luck, the task, the officials.
Sports performers who succeed usually attribute their success to internal causes.
