Attribution Theory Flashcards
What is the definition of attribution?
A perception of the reason for an outcome of an event/performance.
What is the concept of attribution theory?
- The reason why we won or lost.
- Can help maintain motivation and task persistence.
- Classified by Weiner (1974).
- 2 types: Locus of causality, Stability dimension.
What is the locus of causality?
- The control of the performer (internal) or out of their control (external).
- Effort is an internal attribute.
- The referees decisions are an external attribute.
What is the stability dimension?
- Is it a permanent or changed reason.
- An unstable attribute can change in a short amount of time (e.g luck)
- A stab,e attribute is unlikely to change in a short amount of time (e.g Quality of a team).
What are the factors that affect attributes?
- Referees decisions
- Your ability
- Luck
- Coaching that you have received
- Playing a good team
- Effort applied
What is the self serving bias?
- Using external and/or unstable reasons for losing.
- When you win it’s because of you, when you lose it’s because of an external reason.
- A coach should blame the red or the weather
- To maintain motivation don’t attribute the loss to internal and stable attributed (e.g we aren’t good enough).
- Promotes self esteem as players feel responsible for the positive.
What is Learned Helplessness?
- Using internal stable reasons for losing (e.g I’m not good enough and never will be).
- The performer perceives failure as inevitable.
- When doubt in ability affects the players and confidence is lowered.
- Lack of effort and motivation will occur.
- Task persistence drops as they believe failure/ giving up is the only option.
- Exhibit avoidance behaviour.
What is global/ general learned helplessness?
General sporting situations (e.g not good enough at racket sports).
What is specific/ situational learned helplessness?
Specific sporting situations (e.g not good at serving to win the match).
How can learned helplessness be stopped/ prevented?
This can be stopped/ prevented by attributing success to internal and stable factors, by negative feedback and criticism.
What are the different strategies to avoid learned helplessness?
- Develop self confidence/ esteem.
- Attribution retraining.
- Avoid social comparisons.
- Blame external causes.
- Set goals.
- Motivate.
- 1 on 1 attention.
- Allow success (especially early on).
What is attribution retaining?
- Focus on positive attribution rather than negative.
- Shift focus from internal to external factors.
- Must change perceptions by using the weiner box.
- Promotes self esteem.
- Increase self confidence by removing learned helplessness.
- Set SMARTER goals.
- Highlight previous successful performances.
- Give positive reinforcement.
