Sport Environment, Group Processes, Feedback, and Reinforcement Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards defining key terms and concepts related to sport competition, cooperation, game structures, feedback, reinforcement, punishment, behavior modification, and coaching styles based on lecture notes.

Competition

A social process that occurs when rewards are given to people for how their performance compares with the performances of others during the same task or when participating in the same event.

Cooperation

A social process through which performance is evaluated and rewarded in terms of the collective achievement of a group of people working together to reach a particular goal. (produces better performance when a performer has to work with another person)

Decompetition

A situation that occurs when opponents see each other as rivals, with winning as the ultimate goal.

Competition: Good or Bad?

Not Good or Bad - Neutral

Influenced by the social environment: coaches, parents, media

Whether it leads to agression/cooperation depends on the situation and the way they view competition

Competition Process

1: situation where performance is compared with a standard that the person being evaluated is aware of

2: how the person perceives the objective situation (goal/win orientation)

3. Whether the person approaches or avoids the situation

4. Consequences —> comparing one response with standard; perception of consequences is more important than outcome

Win Orientation

focus on interpersonal comparison and winning in comparison

Goal Orientation

focus on personal performance standards

Response (Competition Process)

Stage 3 of the competition process; whether a person approaches or avoids an objective competitive situation at behavioral, physiological, and psychological levels.

Consequences (Competition Process)

Stage 4 of the competition process; refers to comparing one's response with the standard of comparison, where perception of consequences is key.

Triplett’s Cyclists (1898)

individual cyclists were faster when in competition than when racing against the clock.

Deutsch’s Puzzles (1949)

A study showing that competition-group students were self-centered and conflicted, whereas cooperation-group students communicated openly, shared information, and solved more puzzles.

Summer Camp Studies (Sherif and Sherif, 1969)

A study showing three phases: group formation, creation of hostility through competition for rewards, and reduction of competition through cooperative efforts toward shared goals.

Competitive Means - Competitive End

goal is to beat someone else or everyone else from the outset (king of the moutntain, 100 yard dash)

Cooperative Means - Competitive End

participants cooperate in their group but compete outside their group (soccer, basketball)

Individual Means - Individual Ends

one or more players pursue an individual goal without cooperative or competitive interaction, such as cross-country skiing or jogging.

Cooperative Means - Individual Ends

individuals cooperate and help each other achieve their own goal (help each other improve)

Cooperative Means - Cooperative End

Players cooperate with each other from the outset to the end, such as keeping a volleyball from hitting the ground.

Feedback

Offering a reflection regarding the accuracy of past behavior.

postive: points out what is correct

negative: points out what is wrong

Positive Feedback

A type of feedback that points out what has been done correctly.

Negative Feedback

A type of feedback that points out what has been done incorrectly.

Reinforcement

A technique used to increase the likelihood of a similar response or behavior occurring in the future.

postive -→ adding/giving positive stimuli

negative → removing/taking away averse stimuli

Overall goal of feedback/reinforcement/punishment is

Increase desirable behaviors and decrease undesirable behaviors.

how is Increasing desirable behaviors achieved through feedback/reinforcement/punishment

positive approach → positive feedback, rewarding and reinforcing appropriate behavior

Negative approach → negative feedback and punishing undesirable behaviors

Punishment

A strategy used to decrease the likelihood of a similar response or behavior occurring in the future.

Positive Punishment

Adding or giving an aversive stimuli to decrease the likelihood of an undesirable behavior occurring in the future.

Negative Punishment

Removing or taking away a positive stimuli to decrease the likelihood of an undesirable behavior occurring in the future.

Intrinsic Reinforcers

Reinforcements that reside within the participant, such as feelings of pride or competence.

Extrinsic Reinforcers

Reinforcements or rewards provided by other people )praise, trophies, playing time)

Coaching recommendations for reinforcement/rewards

1. Decide whether to reward the entire team or an individual

2. Timing or schedule

3. Use feedback as reinforcement

4. Reward appropriate behaviors

Knowledge of Performance

Feedback regarding the correctness of an action or type of movement pattern.

Behavior Modification

Also known as contingency management or behavioral coaching; the systematic application of reinforcement principles to structure the environment and change behavior (McKenzie and Rushall, 1974).

Cognitive Evaluation Theory

A subtheory of self-determination theory focusing on explaining factors that facilitate or undermine intrinsic motivation based on controlling and informational aspects of rewards.

Controlling aspects → autonomy

informational aspects → competence

Autonomy Supportive Coaching

A coaching style that encourages athlete initiative, offers choices, provides rationales, acknowledges negative feelings, and increases intrinsic motivation and self-esteem.

Controlling Coaching

A coercive, pressuring, and authoritarian coaching style that excessively monitors athletes, uses intimidation, and leads to lower self-esteem and higher burnout.

4 principles of behavior modification

1. Systematic use of verbal instruction and feedback

2. Positive and negative feedback

3. positive practice → controlled environment

4. Time out → stopping players when they do wrong behaviors

controlling aspects → autonomy

rewards perceived to control a person decrease intrinsic motivation

people want to feel they have some control over their behaviors

informational aspects

rewards that provide information and positive feedback about competence increase intrinsic motivation

Knowledge of results or performance?: Your swimming stroke rate was too high and your elbow was too low during the recovery phase

Knowledge of performance

Knowledge of results or performance?: A basketball player makes 7/12 shots

Knowledge of results

A basketball player makes a bad decision so the coach benches her

negative punishment

After an exhausting game that the team wins, the coach gives the team the next day off

negative reinforcement

After missing a tackle the coach make the player do 20 up downs

positive punishment