Lecture 8: Understanding Competition

Question 1

All sport is achievement motivation but not all…

Answer 1

Achievement-motivation is sport

Question 2

Competition is a very significant part of the…

Answer 2

Social environment (E from the B = P x E formula

Question 3

Competition has a direct and indirect impact on all….

Answer 3

Psychological skills needed for performance (e.g., competitive anxiety; motivation [’outcome’ goal orientation])

Question 4

What does the competitive element of sport do to participants and spectators?

Answer 4

elicits intense psychological reactions

Question 5

What is the general definition of competition?

Answer 5

Striving toward a goal or standard

Question 6

What is the reward definition of competition?

Answer 6

Competition is a situation where rewards are distributed unequally among participants on the basis of performance

Question 7

What is the social evaluation definition of competition?

Answer 7

Competition is a situation in which a comparison of an individual’s performance is made with some standard, in the presence of others who are aware of the criteria for comparison, and can evaluate the comparison process

Question 8

Competition is comparison with a…

Answer 8

Standard

Question 9

What does competition not include?

Answer 9

competing against yourself (it is a social evaluation definition)

Question 10

How does presence or implied presence of knowledgeable others impact us?

Answer 10

They evaluate the comparison process; evaluation & judgement is a potential ‘threat’ to self-esteem —> stress/anxiety. This can sometimes help with performance, can sometimes hinder it

Question 11

What type of variable is competitiveness?

Answer 11

A personality variable - some people love the thrill of being judged

Question 12

What is the relationship between cooperation versus competition?

Answer 12

1. Competition and cooperation are NOT mutually exclusive.
2. Sport has defined rules that are implicitly or explicitly agreed upon. Opponents need to learn how to be cooperative before they can successfully compete.

Question 13

What is Martens’ (1976) Model of Competition?

Answer 13

Outlines the competitive process as a four-stage framework; emphasises that an individual’s experience of competition is shaped not only by the objective event but also by their subjective interpretation of it

Question 14

What are the 4 stages of Martens model of competition?

Answer 14

1. Objective Competitive Situation (CAN’T change)
2. Subjective Competitive Situation
3. Responses
4. Concequences

Question 15

What does it mean that Martens model of competition is cyclic?

Answer 15

Consequences influence objective for next time participating

Question 16

What is the objective competitive situation (STAGE 1)?

Answer 16

The external setting:
(1) Social environment
(2) Physical environment
(3) Available rewards
(4) Task characteristics (e.g., level of difficulty)

Question 17

What is the subjective competitive situation (STAGE 2)?

Answer 17

How the individual perceives the competitive situation:
(1) Competitive Trait Anxiety
(2) Achievement Motivation (e.g., goal orientations)
(3) Attitudes towards competition (e.g., positive or negative)
(4) Self-concept (esp. related to self-confidence)

Question 18

What can responses be (STAGE 3)?

Answer 18

Response driven by perceptions in stage 2:
(1) Physiological (arousal, somatic state anxiety)
(2) Psychological (emotional arousal, cognitive state anxiety)
(3) Behavioural (approach or avoid)

Question 19

What can consequences be (STAGE 4)?

Answer 19

(1) Usually Negative OR Positive [PERCEPTION])
(2) Usually socially evaluated and determined.

Question 20

Is competition good or bad?

Answer 20

Depends on PERCEPTION