Attribution Theory Flashcards
Definition of Attribution
Process of giving reasons for behaviour and ascribing causes for events.
For example, the player played badly because the weather was poor.
What did Weiner believe
There are four attributions: ability, effort, task difficulty and luck. Which are arranged into two dimensions. Locus of casualty and locus of stability. (With a possible third dimension of controllability)
The performance outcome is caused by what when talking about Locus of Causality Dimension.
Internal Factors:
- Ability
- Effort
External Factors:
- Luck
- Task Difficulty
The performance outcome is caused by what when talking about Locus of Stability Dimensions.
Stable Factors:
- Fixed factors which do not change with time like, ability or task difficulty.
- Closed skill like pole vaulting, has a specific movement pattern needed to create a stable technique.
Unstable Factors:
- Factors which vary with time like, effort or luck.
- If pole vaulter tries to hard skill may break down and failure will occur.
The performance outcome is caused by what when talking about Locus of Controllability Dimensions.
Relates to the performers feelings of pride and satisfaction, shame and guilt.
Pride and satisfaction are maximised through internal controllable factors.
What do high achievers relate their success and failure to
Success is because of internal factors and failure is because of external factors.
What do low achievers relate success and failure to
Success is because of external factors and failure is because of internal factors.
What is the Self-Serving Bias
- Successful performers tend to take credit for success. Enhancing their feelings of pride, self worth and self esteem.
- Unsuccessful performers do not relate failure to external factors therefore lowering their self esteem.
What is learned helplessness
It is from repeated failure, they feel like they have no control so failure is inevitable. Linked with hopelessness.
What is general (global) learned helplessness
When a person attributes difficulties to internal and stable factors but applied to all sports.
What is specific learned helplessness
When a person attributes difficulties to internal and stable factors but applied to a specific sport.
What is attribution retraining
When a sportsperson must learn to relate failure as high achievers do by relating success to internal factors and failure to external factors.
Resulting in performers self esteem rising.
