Chapter 07 Feedback Reinforcement and Intrinsic Motivation

Feedback, Reinforcement, and Intrinsic Motivation

Chapter Overview

Chapter 7 focuses on understanding the dynamics of feedback, reinforcement, and the factors that influence intrinsic motivation. The chapter outlines how positive and negative feedback impacts behavior, the roles of punishment, and the implementation of behavior modification programs.

Objectives

• Explain Feedback Types: Understand how positive and negative feedback influences behavior.

• Punishment Analysis: Contrast the positive and negative aspects of punishment.

• Behavior Modification: Learn to implement behavior modification programs effectively.

• Motivation Types: Discuss intrinsic and extrinsic motivation types.

• Intrinsic Motivation & Rewards: Describe the interplay between intrinsic motivation and external rewards, elaborating on their controlling and informational aspects.

• Increasing Intrinsic Motivation: Identify methods to enhance intrinsic motivation and the factors that influence it, including social, psychological elements, and more.

• Flow and Clutch States: Understand flow and clutch states in relation to performance.

Understanding Feedback and Reinforcement

• Reinforcement Defined: Utilization of rewards and punishments to influence the likelihood of certain behaviors reoccurring.

• Positive Approaches: Focuses on rewarding desirable behaviors to enhance their occurrence.

• Negative Approaches: Involves punishing undesirable behaviors to redirect them.

• Coach's Role: Most coaches employ a mix of both approaches, although a positive emphasis is preferred, as negative strategies can induce fear in participants.

Benefits of Feedback

• Motivational Feedback: Enhances performance by boosting confidence, inspiring effort, and improving mood; also reinforces the performer and helps in goal setting.

• Instructional Feedback: Informs about specific behaviors, achievement levels, and the performer's proficiency.

Punishment Guidelines

• Positive Dominance: A figure of 80-90% of reinforcement should be positive. Consistency in punishment is crucial, targeting behavior rather than the individual.

• Avoid Physical Punishment: Emphasis should be on rectifying behavior without utilizing physical activities as a form of punishment.

Principles of Effective Behavior Programs

• Target Behaviors: Focus on changing specific behaviors while defining and recording these for clarity.

• Feedback: Provide meaningful and clear outcomes. Tailored reward systems are also essential for effectiveness.

Combining Behavior Modification and Cognitive Behavior Therapy

• Integration of Methods: A blend of cognitive behavior therapy and behavior modification can enhance performance through techniques such as goal setting and self-monitoring.

Intrinsic Motivation Factors

• Definition: Individuals with intrinsic motivation strive to master tasks for personal satisfaction, enjoying competition, engagement, and skill acquisition.

• Influencing Factors: Includes social interactions, coaches' behavior, and psychological needs such as competence and autonomy.

Impact of Extrinsic Rewards on Intrinsic Motivation

• Scholarship Effects: Athletic scholarships can have variable effects on intrinsic motivation based on how coaches emphasize controlling versus informational aspects.

• Success and Feedback: Competitive success generally boosts intrinsic motivation, while failures can diminish it; positive reinforcement plays a key role in encouraging motivation.

Other Determinants of Intrinsic Motivation

• Coaching Style: An autonomous, supportive coaching style compared to a controlling one greatly affects intrinsic motivation.

• League Participation: Recreational activities boost intrinsic motivation more than competitive settings.

Effective Use of External Rewards

• Characteristics of Rewards: Extrinsic rewards that are novel and simple are generally more effective. They should be designed to enable rather than control participation.

• Contingency and Sparing Use: It's important to reward based on behavior and to use these rewards judiciously.

Coaching Styles

• Supportive vs. Controlling: Supportive coaching promotes athlete initiative and personal decision-making while controlling coaching can be coercive and diminish athletes’ input.

Understanding Flow

• Flow Defined: Flow is an intrinsically motivating state experienced during complete immersion in an activity. Essential elements include a balance of challenge and skills, clear goals, and total concentration.

• Achieving Flow: Key actions include optimal preparation, maintaining focus, and ensuring positive interactions with teammates.

Barriers to Flow

• Preventive Factors: Issues such as poor preparation, distractions, and lack of challenge can obstruct the experience of flow during competitive performance.

Flow vs. Clutch States

• Comparative Concepts: Clutch states entail heightened effort and intensity rather than effortless performance, characterized by the presence of critical thoughts and conscious processing.

Summary of Flow Achievement

• Critical Steps: To induce flow, one should balance skills with challenges, achieve optimal arousal, and maintain appropriate focus and environmental conditions.