Sports Psychology - Attributions

Question 1

What is an attribution?

Answer 1

A reason we give for our performance

Question 2

Describe weiners model of attribution

Answer 2

Question 3

Which headings come under the stability dimension

Answer 3

Stable and unstable

Question 4

Which headings come under the locus of control dimension

Answer 4

Internal and external

Question 5

Which attribution is stable and internal

Answer 5

Ability

Question 6

Which attribution is stable and external

Answer 6

Task difficulty

Question 7

Which attribution is unstable and external

Answer 7

Luck

Question 8

What is mastery orientation

Answer 8

Attribution of failure to internal, controllable and unstable factors such as effort, so that you continue to strive to be better

Question 9

Which reasons should you attribute a loss to in order to lead someone to a mastery orientation approach to sports

Answer 9

Internal, controllable, unstable factors - effort

Question 10

What is learned helplessness

Answer 10

The belief that failure is inevitable, a feeling of hopelessness with a particular situation, or group of situations.

Question 11

What are the two types of learned helplessness?

Answer 11

Specific learned helplessness
Global learned helplessness

Question 12

What is the difference between specific learned helplessness and global learned helplessness

Answer 12

Specific learned helplessness = belief that failure is inevitable in a specific situation (e.g. I will miss a penalty in football)
Global learned helplessness = belief that failure is inevitable in a group of situations (e.g. I will be bad at all sports)

Question 13

Which reasons should you attribute a loss in order to avoid learned helplessness

Answer 13

External, unstable factors - luck

Question 14

What is meant by the term ‘self serving bias’

Answer 14

A persons tendency to attribute failure to external reasons to explain poor performance so they don’t feel bad about themselves / to maintain confidence.

Question 15

Which attributions for a loss would be used as a self serving bias?

Answer 15

External reasons such as task difficulty or luck

Question 16

Give examples of how a coach can use attributes to reduce learned helplessness

Answer 16

Attribute failure to external factors such as luck so that the performer doesn’t think it is their fault, and therefore doesn’t lose self esteem.
e.g. ‘you were unlucky in todays game, as the referee decisions didn’t go your way, and that’s why you lost’.

Question 17

Give examples of how a coach can use attributions to encourage a mastery orientation and therefore optimise performance.

Answer 17

A coach should attribute success to internal, factors such as ability or effort to make them want to keep trying hard to improve further and be more successful. A coach should attribute failure to effort, so they know they can win if they try harder next time.
e.g. ‘you won today because you have worked really hard at training to improve your skills. Making them want to carry on working hard.

Or they could attribute a loss to ability, highlighting how they could win next time if they improve their ability by learning a new/advanced skill.
e.g. you didn’t win today because the gymnast who came first performed a triple backflip, that you haven’t learnt to do yet. If you train hard and learn that, then you can beat them next time.