Achievement Motivation

Without motivation, exercise (and its benefits) won’t happen. 

Direction and intensity of effort (Sage, 1977)

Direction of effort: Where a person wants to put their effort/ reason someone wants to put in effort

Intensity of effort: amount of effort someone wants to exert.

· The reason for starting, continuing, and determination of path (Slavin, 2003)

· The motivation answers the question of “why?”


Types of motivation 

Intrinsic- motivation from person’s inner desires. Excitement, fun, self-improvement.

Extrinsic- Motivation from outside sources (tangible rewards “trophy” or intangible “social status”.


Need Achievement Theory 

Motivation is a balance between wanting to succeed and wanting not to fail (McClelland and Atkinson)

Achievement motivation: desire to succeed- fear of failure 

Fear of failure is too large — no motivation to achieve. 


High achievers go for difficult tasks, display a high level of effort

Low achievers avoid difficult tasks, lower effort, are more likely to give up, and focus on the shame of failure. 


Nach characteristic (need to achieve):

  1. Approach behaviours 

  2. Seek challenges and competition 

  1. Enjoys evaluation 

  2. Values feedback

  3. Not afraid to fail 


Naf characteristics (need to avoid failure):

  1. Avoidance behaviours 

  2. Avoids challenges and competitions 

  3. Avoid risk 

  4. Preoccupied with failure 

  5. Lacks persistence 


Components that contribute to NAT:

  • personality 

  • situations

  • resultant tendencies emotions 

  • emotions (pride/shame)                        

  • achievement behaviours 


Level of achievement motivation shown depends on the interaction between 

  • personality (innate- trait approach or developed)

  • situation        

-Probability of success: task difficulty

High NACH like tasks with 50% chance of success.

Low NACH like task with a relatively certain outcome 

-Incentive value of success 

Perceived importance of situation to the individual 

NACH= not afraid to fail - rather play than not 

NAF= preoccupied with failure - avoid all challenges 


Analyse the graph and discuss what it shows 


Probability of success vs Incentive value of success 

Easy task= likely to succeed = little incentive+pride attached - favoured by NAF  

Hard task= less likely to succeed = bring great pride+satisfaction- favoured by NACH


Need Achievement theory, as a coach 

Allow success- set achievable process and performance goals, not just outcome goals

Raise confidence- positive reinforcement 

Highlight successful role models- people with similar characteristics 

Credit internal reasons- ability


Avoidant behaviour happens because of 

  • lack of self-confidence 

  • high anxiety 

  • learned helplessness 

  • attributing failure internally 


NACH DOES NOT=EXTROVERT SOME CAN BE INTROVERTS TOO




Improve need and motive to achieve (Nach)

Reduce  the tendency and motive to avoid failure (Naf)


1

Increase positive reinforcement improves pride and satisfaction 

Reduce punishment 

2

Reduce punishment 

Focus negative feedback on effort, not ability (reduces risk of learned helplessness)

3

Ensure achievable goals 

Avoid situations where defeat/ failure is inevitable 

4

Ensure some situations guarantee success - gradually increase task difficulty 

If not possible, alter criteria for success (score more than last game)

5

Develop confidence and self-efficacy 


6

Ensure challenging tasks 


7

Ensure the incentive value of success is high 


8

Attribute success to internal factors 




Goal-Oriented Theory 

Task-oriented people- doing task correctly and improving 

Ego-oriented- being better than others

Achievement behaviour (how hard you try, persist, tasks chosen and how well you perform) is influenced by two things..

  1. Achievement goals 

Task-oriented- success- getting better- improving learning 

Ego-oriented- success- being better than others 

  1. Perceived ability (self-belief)

  • more for age-oriented athletes (if they think they are good= try harder and seek challenging tasks vice versa)


Attitude towards success (beating others vs improving yourself) combined with how capable you belive you are, determines:

  • effort 

  • persistence 

  • tasks chosen 

  • performance


Question: The Coach introduces new coaching methods. Describe how Atkinson’s model of achievement motivation may influence the soccer team’s response to coaching (3)

  • individuals are motivated by the desire to succeed (NACH) and the fear of failure (NAF)

  • New coaching methods are introduced; players with high NACH may see this as an opportunity to improve.

  • Players with higher NAF might resist/ feel anxious about new methods.