HOW PERCEPTIONS OF SUCCESS AND GOALS IMPACT MOTIVATION Damon Burton University of Idaho

What is success? AND How do we define it?

IS SUCCESS SUBJECTIVE OR OBJECTIVE? What is objective success? How does it differ from subjective success? Give me an example of objective success. Provide an example of subjective success.

OBJECTIVE VERSUS SUBJECTIVE SUCCESS Objective Success – winning or placing high in a race. Subjective Success – reaching a valued goal such as playing slightly beyond your current performance capabilities (CPC).

Which type of success is more feasible and controllable?

MAEHR & NICHOLLS (1980) Success and failure are not objective events BUT subjective perceptions of each individual. Perceived success and failure are defined based on whether performance exceeds goals.

MAEHR & NICHOLLS (1980) Goals define success and failure 2 ways what you are trying to accomplish or personal attributes you value degree to which performance meets or exceeds goal standards Primary Achievement Goals social approval ability task/intrinsic

PRIMARY ACHIEVEMENT GOALS Social Approval – others tell you that you did well Ability – socially compare well and demonstrate competence Task/Intrinsic – learning, mastery and self-comparison

MEASURING ACHIEVEMENT GOALS

Does success or failure mean the same thing to EACH of us?

CONCEPTS CLOSEST AND FARTHEST FROM SUCCESS

CONCEPTS CLOSEST AND FARTHEST FROM FAILURE

Do we define these terms the same way?

If not, are there gender, racial, ethnic or cultural differences in definitions of success and failure?

CONCEPTS CLOSEST AND FARTHEST FROM FAILURE

SUCCESS IS DEFINED IN TERMS OF VALUES Values are learned attitudes. Values are influenced by . . . gender roles learned from significant others cultural values racial and ethnic-based norms and beliefs religious doctrine other groups that influence how we view the world and decide what is important

How do we measure subjective perceptions of success and failure?

ANTECEDENT S OF SUCCESS

ANTECEDENT S OF FAILURE

CONSEQUENCES OF SUCCESS

CONSEQUENCES OF FAILURE

CONSEQUENCES OF SPORT SUCCESS

CONSEQUENCES OF SPORT FAILURE

PERCEPTIONS OF SUCCESS Research confirms that success and failure are subjective terms that reflect gender, racial, ethnic and cultural –based personality, attitudes, values and learning experiences. Definitions of success and failure will differ across and within groups based on how these factors determine personally valued goals.

What role to goals play in definitions of success and failure?

ROLE OF GOALS IN MOTIVATION

NICHOLLS’ (1984) MOTIVATIONAL ORIENTATION Built on Maehr & Nicholls (1980) research on perceptions of success by combining “social approval” and “ability” goals into a single motivational orientation he termed “ego-involvement.” Similarly, he combined “intrinsic” and “task” goals into a motivational orientation he termed “task-involvement.”

NICHOLLS’ (1984) MOTIVATIONAL ORIENTATIONS Ego-Involvement – perceptions of ability are based on comparison with other competitors (e.g., placing high and/or winning/losing). Task-Involvement – perceptions of success are based on learning, improving or surpassing personal performance standards (e.g., setting a PR). TI performers assume enough ability to learn and improve. TI competitors may not consider they fail because they are challenged and take a problem-solving approach.

CHARACTERISTICS OF EGO-INVOLVEMENT Ability is viewed as “capacity” The EI concept of ability is a complex evaluation that includes: opponents’ ability outcome effort expenditure EI performers perceive they have high ability when they socially compare well and win often.

CHARACTERISTICS OF TASK-INVOLVEMENT Ability is viewed as “mastery” The EI concept of ability involves a simpler evaluation that includes: performance effort expenditure EI performers perceive they have high ability when they socially compare well and win often.

GOALS OF SUCCESS- AND FAILURE-ORIENTED ATHLETES Success-Oriented Failure-Oriented Outcome -- Consistent and/or positive social comparison (e.g., win) Recognition – consistently get recognition, attention and rewards Social – consistent positive social interactions Performance – consistent improvement and high personal involvement Outcome – inconsistent and/or negative social comparison (e.g., lose) Recognition –consistently fail to get recognition, attention and rewards Social – inconsistent or negative social interactions Performance – inconsistent or minimal improvement and low personal involvement.