Paper 2 Sports Psychology- Attribution In sport

Question 1

Weiners model of attribution

Answer 1

• Two dimensional
• Includes where the attributions have came from (locus of causality) and whether they are stable or not ( locus of stability
• Also includes a third dimension (controllability) which refers to whether the performer has control over the causes of failure

Question 2

What are attributions

Answer 2

Reasons for winning or losing

Different attributions can affect motivation and therefore future performance

Attributing to uncontrollable, stable and unstable factors can lead to learned helplessness

Question 3

Learned helplessness

Answer 3

A belief that failure is Inevitable and a feeling of hopelessness when faced with a particular situation

Low achievers can suffer from learned helplessness.

Question 4

Mastery orientation

Answer 4

The view that an individual will be motivated by becoming an expert (master) in skill development or sports performance

An athlete who is mastery oriented will often attribute failure to internal factors e.g. effort

Question 5

Attribution retraining

Answer 5

Used to change the attributions and opinions of individuals and minimise effects of learned helplessness

Question 6

Controllability

Answer 6

Whether attributions are under the control of the performer or under the control of others, or whether they are uncontrollable I.e. nothing can be done by anyone.

Question 7

Self serving bias

Answer 7

A persons tendency to attribute their failure to external reasons

E.g. losing a badminton match as the floor was too slippy

Question 8

Locus of causality

Answer 8

Whether the attributions come from within the person (internal) or from the environment (external)

Question 9

Locus of stability

Answer 9

Whether the attribution is changeable or unchangeable and affects a persons expectations of future outcomes