C12 - Attribution Theory

Question 1

Define Attribution?

Answer 1

A perception of the reason for an outcome of an event/ performance.

Question 2

Define the Locus of Causality?

Answer 2

Is it in the control of the performer (internal) or out of their control (external).

Question 3

Define Internal Attribute?

Answer 3

Within the performers control- Effort

Question 4

Define External Attribute?

Answer 4

Outside of the performers control- the referee

Question 5

Define the Stability Dimension?

Answer 5

Is it a permanent or changeable reason

Question 6

Define a Unstable Attribute?

Answer 6

Can change in a short amount of time- Luck

Question 7

Define a Stable Attribute?

Answer 7

Unlikely to change in a short amount of time- Quality of a team

Question 8

Name factors that affect Attribution?

Answer 8

■ Refs decision
■ Your ability
■ Luck
■ Coaching you have received
■ Playing a good team
■ The effort applied
■ The amount of practice that occured

Question 9

Define Self Serving Bias?

Answer 9

Using external and/or unstable reasons for losing

Question 10

What’s Learned Helplessness?

Answer 10

Using Internal Stable reasons for losing – I’m not good enough and never will be- blaming ourselves.

Question 11

What are the two types of Helplessness?

Answer 11

• Global / General learned helplessness

- Specific/Situational learned helplessness

Question 12

Define Global / General learned helplessness?

Answer 12

General sporting situations, e.g. not good at racket sports

Question 13

Define Specific/Situational learned helplessness?

Answer 13

Specific sporting situations, e.g. not good at serving to win the match.

Question 14

What strategies can be used to avoid leaned helplessness?

Answer 14

■ Develop self confidence/ efficacy/ esteem
■ Attribution retraining- attributing reasons for failure to effective things
■ Avoid social comparisons
■ Blame external causes- coaches, equipment, tactics etc
■ Goal setting
■ Set performance/ process/ task orientated goals rather than outcome goals
■ Mental rehearsal/ Visualisation/ Imagery
■ Positive feedback/ reinforcement/ peer support/ Verbal persuasion
■ Motivate
■ Allow success (especially early)
■ 1 to 1 attention
■ Vicarious experiences
■ Positive self talk/ thought stopping
■ Performance accomplishments- previous success
■ Ensure success/ gradually increase task difficulty

Question 15

Define Attribution Retraining?

Answer 15

■ Focus on positive attribution rather than negative
■ Shift focus from internal to external factors

■ Changing the reasons given for success and failure
■ Must change perceptions by using the Weiner box
■ Change in internal stable attribution to external unstable ones- Don’t blame player ability, blame luck
■ Promotes self esteem
■ Increase self confidence by removing learned helplessness
■ Set realistic/achievable process and/or performance goals
■ Raise self efficacy using Bandura’s model
■ Highlight previous successful performances
■ Give positive reinforcement and encouragement