Principles of Sport and Exercise Psychology: Motivation

Flashcards covering definitions of motivation, Achievement Goal Theory, Self-Determination Theory, Attribution Theory, and practical strategies for creating positive motivational climates in sport and exercise psychology.

How is motivation defined in sport and exercise psychology?

Motivation is the direction and intensity of effort.

What is the difference between direction of effort and intensity of effort?

Direction of effort refers to whether an individual seeks out, approaches, or is attracted to situations

Intensity of effort refers to how much effort an individual puts forth in a situation.

According to the participant-by-situation interaction approach, which personal and situational factors interact to determine participant motivation?

Personal factors (personality, needs, interests, goals) interact with situational factors (leader-coach style, facility attractiveness, team win-loss record) to determine participant motivation.

How does Gill (2000) define achievement motivation?

A person's orientation to strive for task success, persist in the face of failure, and experience pride in accomplishments.

What four behavioral facets are influenced by achievement motivation?

Choice of activities, effort to pursue goals, intensity of effort, and persistence in the face of failure.

Which three factors interact to determine motivation according to Achievement Goal Theory?

Achievement goals, perceived ability, and achievement behavior.

What are the two types of achievement goals identified in Achievement Goal Theory?

Outcome-oriented goals and task-oriented goals.

What are the three basic psychological needs specified in Self-Determination Theory?

Autonomy, competence, and relatedness.

How are autonomy, competence, and relatedness defined within Self-Determination Theory?

Autonomy is the feeling of choice for any action; competence is the feeling that an (challenging) act can be completed successfully; and relatedness is the need to feel connected and experience a sense of belongingness with others.

What is intrinsic motivation, and what three internal quests characterize it?

Intrinsic motivation is striving inwardly to be competent and self-determining in one's quest to master a skill or task, characterized by knowledge, accomplishment, and stimulation.

How is extrinsic motivation defined?

Being motivated for extrinsic reasons, such as external rewards or praise from others.

What characterizes amotivation on the self-determination continuum?

Non-intentional behavior, non-valuing, perceived incompetence, lack of control, and having no desire to do the activity.

What characterizes external regulation in multidimensional extrinsic motivation?

Compliance driven by external rewards and punishments, epitomized by the mindset "I was told to do it."

What characterizes introjected regulation in multidimensional extrinsic motivation?

Self-control, ego-involvement, internal rewards and punishments, and internalized nagging, summarized by "I'd better do it."

What characterizes identified regulation in multidimensional extrinsic motivation?

Personal importance and conscious valuing of an activity, characterized by "Doing it this way will help me achieve my goals."

What characterizes integrated regulation in multidimensional extrinsic motivation?

Congruence, awareness, synthesis with self, and behavior tied directly to identity ("Doing this is a part of who I am").

What are attributions in Attribution Theory, and what are the three basic attribution categories?

Attributions are explanations people give for their successes and failures. The three categories are stability (stable/unstable), locus of causality (internal/external), and locus of control (in one's control/out of one's control).

According to Table 3.1, how do stability factors influence psychological results in achievement motivation?

Stability factors influence the expectancy of future success: stable attributions lead to an increased expectation of success, whereas unstable attributions lead to a decreased expectation of success.

According to Table 3.1, how do causality factors and control factors influence emotions and motivation?

Internal causes increase pride or shame (external causes decrease pride or shame), and causes within one's control increase motivation (causes out of one's control decrease motivation).

How can Tasks, Authority, and Reward be structured to foster a mastery-oriented motivational climate?

Tasks: focus on learning and task involvement while playing down competition;

Authority: allow input into the decision-making process;

Reward: reward improvement rather than social comparison.

How can Grouping, Evaluation, and Timing be structured to foster a mastery-oriented motivational climate?

Grouping: work together rather than compete; Evaluation: evaluate progress and learning rather than who is best; Timing: provide feedback as soon as possible.

What six strategies are recommended to increase intrinsic motivation in sport and exercise?

Provide for successful experiences, give rewards contingent on effort, use verbal and nonverbal praise, vary content and sequence of practice drills, involve individuals in decision making, and set realistic performance goals.

What are the primary motives for joining versus continuing an exercise program?

Motives for joining include health factors, weight loss, fitness, self-challenge, and feeling good; motives for continuing include enjoyment, liking the instructor, liking the type of activity, and social factors.