Attribution theory

Question 1

Attribution theory (Weiner, 1985)

Answer 1

• attribution is how individuals explain the reasons for their successes or failures in sport
• these explanations impact:
  . Motivation
  . Future performance
  . Self confidence

Question 2

What are the four key attributions weiner identified athletes give for success or failure?

Answer 2

1. Ability
2. Effort
3. Task difficulty
4. Luck

Question 3

Ability- explanation

Answer 3

The natural or learned skill level of the athlete

Question 4

Ability- sporting example

Answer 4

I won because I’m good at sprinting

Question 5

Effort- explanation

Answer 5

The amount of work or determination put in

Question 6

Effort- sporting example

Answer 6

I lost because I didn’t try hard enough

Question 7

Task difficulty- explanation

Answer 7

How easy or hard the opponent/ situation was

Question 8

Task difficulty- sporting example

Answer 8

I won because the opposition was weak

Question 9

Luck- explanation

Answer 9

Uncontrollable external factors

Question 10

Luck- sporting example

Answer 10

I lost because the ball bounced the wrong way

Question 11

What are the three dimensions of attribution

Answer 11

Each attribution fits into three dimensions, which affect motivation and future behaviour
1. Locus of causality
2. Locus of stability
3. Locus of controllability

Question 12

Locus of causality (explanation)

Answer 12

Was the cause internal (within our control) or external (out of our control) to the athlete

Question 13

Locus of causality (example)

Answer 13

Internal (ability, effort) external (luck,task difficulty)

Question 14

Locus of stability (explanation)

Answer 14

Is the cause stable (unlikely to change) or unstable?
- the reason is permanent (stable) or forever changing (unstable)

Question 15

Locus of stability (example)

Answer 15

Stable (ability,task difficulty) unstable (luck,effort)

Question 16

Locus of controllability (explanation)

Answer 16

Can the athlete control the cause or not
- refers to internal control (things within an athletes control e.g. commitment to training) and external control (things out of the athletes control e.g. coaches tactics or weather conditions)

Question 17

Locus of controllability (Examples)

Answer 17

• controllable (effort) uncontrollable (luck,weather)

Question 17

Why attribution matters in sport

Answer 17

• success attributed to internal, stable, and controllable factors (e.g. effort and ability) builds confidence and motivation
• failure attributed to external or unstable factors (e.g. luck) can reduce responsibility and prevent learning
• athletes who constantly blame external or uncontrollable factors may suffer from learned helplessness

Question 18

Attribution retraining

Answer 18

Goal:help athletes view failure in a more positive, controllable, and motivating way

Question 19

Strategies for attribution retraining

Answer 19

• encourage effort based attributions
• reframe failure as learning
• avoid blame on luck
• use feedback to support control
• goal setting and reflection

Question 20

Encourage effort-based attributions (explanation)

Answer 20

Focus on what the athlete can control, like effort and preparation

Question 21

Reframe failure as learning (explanation)

Answer 21

Helps athletes see failure as a temporary setback that can be improved

Question 22

Avoid blame on luck (explanation)

Answer 22

Redirect athletes from blaming external factors and promote ownership

Question 23

Use feedback to support control (explanation)

Answer 23

Coaches should give constructive feedback to highlight what can improve

Question 24

Goal setting and reflection (explanation)

Answer 24

Create SMART goals and review performances to encourage responsibility

Question 25

Example of attribution retraining in practice:

Answer 25

A swimmer fails to qualify for a final and says: I’m just not good enough A coach reframes this with: You didn’t place your race well- lets work on race strategy so you can improve