Attribution Theory

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By the end of the lesson you will be able to answer the following questions:

Task ! Think of a game you played in recently. Did you win or lose? Why do you think you won or lost? Why did your coach think you won or lost?

Definition of Attribution Attributions are seen as being what an individual or team interprets or perceives as being the cause of theirs or others particular behaviour/ outcome of events.

Definition of Attribution The reasons/causes given for their success or failure can affect.. Immediate emotional reactions Actual behaviour It can have serious effects on a performers aspirations, expectations, motivation and future participation.

Weiner’s Model of Attribution Although there are thousands of reasons we can give as to why we won or lost. Weiner suggests that these can be grouped into certain categories across two dimensions.

Weiner’s Model of Attribution The four categories of causal attributions given for peoples success or failure were; Ability Luck Effort Task Difficulty

Weiner’s Model of Attribution These can be classified by stability and locus of causality. Locus of causality Internal Attributions External Attributions Stable Attributes Ability Task Difficulty Unstable Attributes Effort Luck

Weiner’s Model of Attribution Stability Stable:- Permanent in relation to time e.g.. Ability and task Unstable:- Changeable in relation to time e.g.. Effort and luck Locus of causality Internal:- Within performers e.g.. Ability and effort External:- Environmental factors e.g. task difficulty and luck

Weiner’s Model of Attribution Locus of causality dimension Internal External We were too good for the opposition on the day! Our skills were better They were not a very good team from a lower league We had prepared well for the game and all of the team worked extremely hard We were lucky on the day. The umpire gave us a questionable penalty flick! Stable Stability Unstable

Activity Using your cards hold up the correct attribution for the reasons for winning or losing.....

Reasons for winning or losing I played a better player The umpire wasn't that great The crowd put me off Psychological- I have never beaten the opponent Due to my level of fitness The playing surface- prefers clay Pressure from family to win The importance of the match

I’m not very good at badminton Our swimming team is the best in the region Our team is not really good enough to win the cup The referee was biased I couldn't be bothered to try Everybody tried their best The rain caused the match to be abandoned and saved us

Application of Attribution Theory This theory is important in sport as it affects future effort. If we think reasons for success are stable and we are accountable for them we will have confidence in the future. If we believe that reasons for failure are changeable, we can change the future result and influence the performance- ‘If I try harder…I may win next time’

Task! With a partner toss a coin 10 times. Each time predict if it is going to land on heads or tails Record your score Who is the winner?

Self Serving Bias This is a tendency for performers to attribute success to themselves (internal reasons) and failure to external and changeable reasons. EG. It was the referees fault we lost Traditionally thought that winners attribute success to internal factors and losers, failure to external factors. This protects self esteem/ pride.

Effective use of Attributions We want our performer to Attribute winning to internal factors Attribute losing to external factors Use of attributions in this way is called Self Serving Bias Why?........Maintains motivation, task persistence, Develops self esteem, avoids learned helplessness

Attribution Retraining Coach changes the performers perception of failure, allow them to deal with it effectively and improve future performances

Failure or poor performance Change from: Change to: Attributions: Lack of Ability Attributions: incorrect strategy Emotion: negative e.g. frustration Emotion: negative or neutral e.g. disappointment Behaviour helplessness, avoidance Behaviour: persistence

Learned Helplessness Performer attributes failure to internal, stable factors such as ability. Consequently they feel that when faced with particular situations they are unlikely to be successful and failure is the only viable outcome

Learned Helplessness “An acquired state or condition related to the performers perception that he or she does not have any control over the situational demands being placed on him or her and that failure is therefore inevitable”

Why? Inappropriate feedback Criticism Lack of success

General/Global learned helplessness: Failure is inevitable in all sports. I.e. all water based sports Specific learned helplessness: Specific to a sport i.e. canoeing

How to avoid learned helplessness Experience early success Realistic but challenging goals One to one attention Avoid social comparisons Mental rehearsal Performance goals rather than outcome goals Attribution retraining Use correct attributions ?

Quick questions…. Explain the term self serving bias What is attribution re training? Explain the term learned helplessness Difference between global and specific learned helplessness? Two strategies to reduce learned helplessness

Exam questions 2006

Exam answers - 2006