A-Level PE AQA Sport Psychology: Achievement Motivation

The desire with which competitive situations are approached or avoided

He suggested 2 personality types

Approach behaviour and avoidance behaviour

Approaching competition with enthusiasm ex - asks to take the penalty

Tries to avoid the competition ex - at the back of the group for penalties

The need to achieve

. Welcomes competition
. Take risks
. Welcome feedback and evaluation
. Likes a challenge
. Task persistent - try harder after failure
. Confident
. Attributes success internally
. Base their actions on seeking pride and satisfaction from their performance

The need to avoid failure

. Avoid competition
. Take the easy option
. Give up easily
. Do not like feedback or evaluation
. Do not take responsibility for their actions

Approach behaviour depends on the interaction of personality and situation. The need to achieve or avoid failure are situation specific

The combination of the situational and personality factors that decide the level of achievement motivation

. Need to achieve or avoid failure
. Introvert or extrovert
. Confidence
. Innate or developed
. Aggression/arousal/anxiety

. Probability of success (easy or hard)
. Incentive value (high or low)
. Familiar or unfamiliar environment
. High risk = high reward

Then it causes people to want to give up and there will be a lack of motivation

The high chance leads to a higher form of motivation

Incentive value is reward gained from a task. A high value reward leads to high motivation

A low incentive value leads to people giving up and then lacking motivation

. Attribute success internally
. Use reinforcement
. Set goals
. Improve confidence/self-efficacy
. Allow success

Tell the player that success is due to THEM, THEIR efforts, technique and skills

A coach could offer praise and rewards to players who do well or achieve goals, this maintains motivation and promotes task persistence

Goals should be realistic and achieve able which means satisfaction is gained. Process or outcome goals

Encourage belief and motivation to improve confidence by setting easy drills

Motivation and task persistence depend on the type of goals set and how success is measured

. Measuring the process of success against the performers own standards
. Regardless of the result success can be achieved as the goal is reached

. Doesn’t matter how result is achieved as long as the goal is reached
. If the performer succeeds pride and satisfaction are maintained
. If they fail confidence and motivation can be lowered