Attribution Theory

Question 1

What is attribution?

Answer 1

A perception of the reason of an outcome of an event/ performance.

Question 2

What is the Locus of Causality?

Answer 2

It is the control of the performer (internal attribute- within the performers control- effort ) or out of their control (external attribution- outside of performers control- the referee)

Question 3

What is the stability dimension?

Answer 3

It is the permanent or changeable reason.
Unstable Attribute- Can change in the short amount of time- Luck.
Stable Attribute- Unlikely to change in short amount of time- quality of team.

Question 4

Who made the attribution model?

Answer 4

Weiner

Question 5

3 factors that affect Attribution:

Answer 5

• ref’s decision
  -luck
  -effort applied

Question 6

What can be used to maintain motivation and task persistence?

Answer 6

Self serving Bias

Question 7

What is self serving bias?

Answer 7

This is using external and or unstable reasons for losing.

Question 8

What should the coach do when using this?

Answer 8

-blame the ref or weather as they are external and unstable
-praise effort + reward ability

Question 9

How to maintain motivation using Self Serving Bias:

Answer 9

Don’t attribute the loss to internal and stable attributes.

Question 10

What else does the Self Serving Bias promote?

Answer 10

Self esteem- players feel responsible for the positive result.

Question 11

What is learned helplessness?

Answer 11

Using Internal stable reasons for losing (ability).

Question 12

What happens to the performer when this happens?

Answer 12

1. Perceives failure as inevitable
2. Lack of effort and Motivation
3. Task persistence drops as they believe giving up is only option

Question 13

Name and explain the 2 types:

Answer 13

Global/ general learned helplessness- general sporting situations.
Specific/ situational learned helplessness- specific sporting situations

Question 14

How can learned helplessness be stopped:

Answer 14

By attributing to internal and stable factors and by negative feedback and criticism.

Question 15

5 strategies to avoid learned helplessness:

Answer 15

1. develop self confidence
2. avoid social comparison
3. goal setting
4. motivate
5. 1 to 1 attention

Question 16

What is attribution retraining?

Answer 16

• focus on positive attribution rather than negative
• shift focus from internal to external factors

Question 17

4 ways how this will be done:

Answer 17

1. changing reasons given for success and failure
2. promotes self esteem
3. increase self confidence by removing learned helplessness
4. highlight previous successful performances.

Question 18

Name one attribution process and confidence flow:

Answer 18

High confidence- bad experience- confidence is lowered- possible learned helplessness leads to other general or specific helplessness.

Question 19

Name another one:

Answer 19

High confidence- success or correct attributions- confidence is enhanced- mastery orientation.