Sports Psych- ch.7 feedback, reinforcement, intrinsic motivation

Reinforcement

Using rewards or punishments to increase or decrease the chances of a behavior happening again.

What happens when a behavior leads to a good consequence?

It’s likely to be repeated

What happens when a behavior leads to an unpleasant consequence?

People try not to repeat it

Which statement best describes reinforcement?

Rewards and punishments influence future behavior

Positive Approach

Focuses on rewarding good behavior to encourage it.

Negative Approach

Focuses on punishing bad behavior to reduce it.

What is the best overall approach for coaches and teachers?

Positive with limited punishment

Positive Reinforcement

Adding something pleasant after a behavior to encourage it.

Negative Reinforcement

Removing something unpleasant after a behavior to encourage it.

Positive Punishment

Adding something unpleasant to reduce a behavior.

Negative Punishment

Taking away something pleasant to reduce a behavior.

Example: a coach gives extra sprints for being late to practice.

Positive Punishment

Example: a team skips conditioning because they scored 6 runs.

Negative Reinforcement

Example: losing dessert for hitting your sister.

Negative Punishment

Effective Reinforcement

Choose rewards carefully, reward effort and performance, and give feedback immediately.

Shaping

Rewarding small improvements until the desired skill is achieved.

Knowledge of Results

Information about the outcome of a performance.

Knowledge of Performance

Information about how the skill was performed.

Motivational Feedback

Increases confidence, effort, and positive mood.

Instructional Feedback

Tells what behaviors to do, the level to reach, and current progress.

Which is an example of motivational feedback?

“Keep it up, your confidence is growing!”

Which is an example of instructional feedback?

“Keep your knees bent when you land.”

Punishment

A strong stimulus that decreases the chance of a behavior happening again.

Which is an example of positive punishment?

Giving extra laps for being late

Which is an example of negative punishment?

Taking away free time for missing practice

Guidelines for Punishment

Be consistent, punish behavior not person, avoid physical punishment, and don’t embarrass athletes.

Why should punishment be used sparingly?

It can create fear and shame

Which of the following is NOT a good punishment practice?

Yelling to embarrass

Positive Reinforcement vs Punishment

Both can change behavior, but positive reinforcement is more effective and creates better motivation.

Which approach do sport psychologists recommend most often?

Positive approach

A coach benches a player for arguing with a teammate. This is an example of:

Negative punishment

An athlete studies film to avoid criticism from the coach. What type of reinforcement is motivating this behavior?

Negative reinforcement

A fitness instructor praises a client after every workout to encourage consistency. What type of feedback is this?

Motivational feedback

During practice, a coach tells a player, “Your form improved, but keep your shoulders back next time.” This feedback includes:

Instructional feedback

A soccer player runs extra laps because the team lost focus during practice. This is an example of:

Positive punishment

If a behavior increases after something unpleasant is taken away, what type of learning occurred?

Negative reinforcement

An athlete loses motivation because the coach only focuses on mistakes and rarely gives praise. This best demonstrates:

Overuse of negative approach

Which feedback type helps athletes understand *how* to improve their technique?

Instructional feedback

A basketball player who improves after being rewarded for small progress is experiencing:

Shaping

A coach gives less feedback as athletes become more skilled. This practice is known as:

Fading

A swimmer works harder after receiving praise for effort instead of results. This approach reinforces:

Effort and performance improvement

Punishment can be effective only if:

It’s immediate, consistent, and behavior-focused

When a coach allows players to choose drills, it enhances which type of motivation?

Autonomy and intrinsic motivation

If a coach removes a player’s privilege to start the next game to reduce late arrivals, that’s:

Negative punishment

According to behaviorist principles, reinforcement works best when:

Paired with clear feedback and follows the behavior immediately

Which is the best example of combining motivational and instructional feedback?

“Good effort! Next time, follow through with your wrist.”

An athlete who stops giving effort after repeated punishment is likely experiencing:

Fear and reduced self-esteem

A coach who recognizes effort over outcome is promoting what type of learning environment?

Task-oriented climate

A player practices extra on their own because they enjoy mastering new skills. This is an example of:

Intrinsic motivation

An athlete who performs better after hearing “You’re improving every week” benefits most from:

Motivational feedback