B.2 - Psychology of Sports

Question 1

Define the term motivation

Answer 1

Motivation is “the internal mechanisms and external stimuli which arouse and direct our behaviour” (Sage, 1974).

Question 2

What are the different types of motivation

Answer 2

1. Intrinsic motivation
2. Extrinsic motivation

Question 3

Outline Intrinsic motivation

Answer 3

• comes from within a person
• associated with doing an activity for itself
• pleasure and satisfaction derived from participation

Motives:

• excitement
• fun, enjoyment
• chance to improve skills

Question 4

Outline Extrinsic motivation

Answer 4

• Comes from outside the person.
• External rewards such as:
• money
• trophies
• prizes
• praise
• status

Question 5

Discuss the issues associated with the use of intrinsic and extrinsic motivators in sports and exercise.

Answer 5

• Extrinsic rewards influence intrinsic motivation
• Extrisic rewards seen as controlling of behavior
• Extrinsic rewards enhance intrisic motivation when rewards provide positive information about the performers level competence

Question 6

Describe Atkinson’s model of Achievement Motivation

Answer 6

Theory: Motivation is a balance between the motive to achieve success and the motive to avoid failure

Question 7

Outline Goal Orientation Theory

(Achievement goal theory)

Answer 7

The efforts an athlete makes to achieve excellence in their chosen field

According to this theory, the main concern of the athlete is to succeed and to avoid failure

Achievement goal theory states that an individual’s goals in a particular situation is a combined result of their typical response (personality) and prevailing situational factors (environment)

Question 8

Behaviours of Task vs outcome goal orientated athletes

Answer 8

Outcome goal orientated:

• judge success by how they compare to others
• is more likely to select tasks in which they are guaranteed success

Task goal orientated:

• Has a strong work ethic
• good at maintaining effort without immediate reward
• Does not fear failure

Question 9

What is Attribution Theory

Answer 9

Weiner’s attribution theory is mainly about achievement. According to him, the most important factors affecting attributions are ability, effort, task difficulty, and luck. Attributions are classified along three causal dimensions:

locus of control (two poles: controlled by the athlete vs. controlled by others)

stability (cause is permanent (stable) or temporary (unstable))

controllability (causes one can control such as skills vs. causes one cannot control such as luck, others’ actions, etc.)

Question 10

Self-Serving Bias

Answer 10

Tendency for most people to adopt external attributions and blame other factors after a loss or to use internal reasons to explain the outcome after a win

Question 11

Learned Helplessness

Answer 11

When an individual perceives that his or her failure is due to a lack of ability and their actions have no effect on the outcome of the task