Defining Motivation

Motivation is the Direction and Intensity of Effort

Direction: Refers to whether an individual seeks out,
approaches or is attracted to certain situations
Intensity: refers to how much effort a person put forth
in a situation

The best way to understand motivation is to consider

both the person and the situation and how they
interact.
Views on Motivation
Trait-Centered
Also called Participant Centered
Motivated behavior is primarily a function of individual
characteristics.
 The “Real Winner” or “Loser”

Situation –Centered
Motivation is determined primarily by the situation
 The athlete enjoys one type of training over another
Views on Motivation
Interactional View
Most widely endorsed
The best way to understand motivation is to examine
how the factor of traits and situations interact.
Interactional Model of Motivation
Personal Situational
Interaction
Factors Factors

•Coach’s Style
•Personality •Facilities
•Needs •W-L Records
•Interests •Style of Play
•Goals

Participant Motivation
Using Interactional Motivation
MOTIVATION TYPE THE COMPETITIVE SITUATION

Approval Lower Best

Oriented Performance Performance

ALONE ON A TEAM

Rejection Best Lower

Threatened Performance Performance
Guidelines for Building Motivation
Both Situations and Traits motivate people
People have multiple motives for Involvement
Understand why
People have competing Motives
Motive Change over time
Changes in the Environment can enhance
motivation
Providing multiple opportunities
Adjust to individuals within groups
Leaders influence motivation
Behavior Modification can change participants
undesirable motives
Understanding Why People Participate in
Sport and Exercise

This exercise helps you identify various motives

people have for participating in sport or exercise.
Working in a small group, discuss the reasons that
you and people you know participate in athletics or
exercise. What situational or personal factors
influence participation? What are the major
motives for participation? What are some of the
most unusual or unique motives?

Sport participation motives:

Exercise participation motives:
Achievement Motivation
A person’s efforts to master a task, achieve excellence,
overcome obstacles, perform better the others and
take pride in exercising talent. Effects include:
Choice of activity (What and who)
Effort to pursue goal (practice)
Intensity (How hard you try)
Persistence
 When the going gets tough the _____ _____ ____
Theories of Achievement Motivation
Need Achievement
The Interactional view that considers:
 Personality Factors
 Situational Factors

 Behavioral Tendencies
 Approach Success or Avoid Failure

 Emotional Reactions
 Focus on pride/shame on success/failure
Theories of Achievement Motivation
Attribution Theory
Focuses on how people explain their successes and
failures

 The Stability Factor – permanent or unstable

 Locus of Causality – the cause of behavior is external or

internal to him/herself
 Locus of Control – what can be controlled/not controlled
Theories of Achievement Motivation
Achievement Goal Theory
Goals and perception are the main factors in
Motivation
 Goals
 Outcome orientation: Defeating others

 Task orientation: Improving on past performances

 Perceived Ability
 How does a person think they compare
Theories of Achievement Motivation
Competence Motivation Theory
People are motivated to feel worthy or competent and
such feelings are the primary determinants of
motivation.
Feedback and reinforcement affect self esteem and
perceived competence/control

Useful when working with children

Developing of Achievement Motivation
Autonomous Stage
Stage that occurs up though age 4
Children are focusing on mastering their environment
Self Comparison
Social Comparison Stage
 Starts at about age 5
 Focus is one directly comparing performance to
others
Integrated Stage
 The person who knows when it is appropriate to
compare him/herself to other or when to adopt self-
referenced standards