Attribution Theory Flashcards
Define attribution
A perception of the reason for an outcome of an event
What does Weiners model consist of
Internal and external locus of causality
Stable and unstable locus of stability
Reasons for winning or losing can either be within control of…
Internal attribute
External attribute
Define internal attribute
Within the performers control
If you think result was down to you, you have some control over result
Define external attribute
Outside the performers control
If you think result was due to a decision by the ref, then you had no control over the outcome
Reasons for winning and losing can also be changeable in a short time….
Unstable
Stable
Define stable attribute
Unlikely to change in short term
If you think you are good at defending, then it’s likely you will maintain that confident approach for the future
Define unstable attribute
Can change in short amount of time
If you think you didn’t try hard enough in the game, then that can be put right and changed for next week
What are some of the attributes to explain reasons for winning or losing
–Luck
–Amount of practice done in the week
–Refs decision
–Ability
–Effort
Why might coaches and players use attribution theory
Make sure players keep on trying even after defeat. Promotes task persistance
Define self serving bias
–Using external and/or unstable reasons for losing
E.g Keep players happy by blaming loss on refs
Define learned helplessness
–Using internal stable reasons for losing
–Blaming loss on ability-> decrease confidence and may give up
–Can become so bad that when this becomes general e.g. person thinking they are bad at racket sports as they had little success with badminton
How can you promote task persistence with attribution theory
Self serving bias
Learned helplessness
Define attribution retraining
Changing the reasons given for success and failure
To overcome learned helplessness
Coach change internal stable reasons for failure to external unstable ones
