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C.3.1SL + HL

Achievement motivation

Guiding question: Why do some athletes chase challenges while others avoid them, and what does success mean to each of them?

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  1. C.3.1.1

    Need achievement theory

    Personality factors (need to achieve and need to avoid failure) combine with situational factors (probability of success and incentive value). Together they give a resultant tendency to approach or avoid, which creates emotions such as pride or shame and drives behaviour. Coaches can change the situation to encourage approach behaviour.

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    Check yourself

    Quick check

    1. 1.In need achievement theory, which pair are personality factors?

    2. 2.In need achievement theory, the probability of success and the incentive value of success are

    3. 3.According to need achievement theory, in which order do the factors lead to behaviour?

  2. C.3.1.2

    Goal orientation theory

    Everyone wants to feel successful, but people judge success differently. Task-oriented athletes compare with their own past performance, while ego-oriented athletes compare with others. Athletes high in task orientation tend to try harder and keep going for longer.

    Match the terms

    Key terms

    Match each term to its meaning.

    Tap a term, then tap its meaning.

    Check yourself

    Quick check

    1. 1.An athlete feels successful after setting a personal best, even though she finished last in the race. Which goal orientation does this show?

    2. 2.Which behaviour is associated with high task orientation?

    3. 3.How do ego-oriented athletes judge success?

  3. C.3.1.3 · HL only

    When ego orientation causes problems

    Ego orientation is mainly a problem when task orientation is low. An ego-oriented athlete copes well while they believe others see them as able. If they think others rate them poorly, anxiety, excuses and dropout become likely. A threat to their ego tends to make them defensive.

    Check yourself

    Quick check

    1. 1.An athlete with high ego and low task orientation believes team-mates think she is a poor player. What is the most likely outcome?

    2. 2.Why might an athlete high in ego orientation become defensive when criticised by a coach?

    3. 3.When is high ego orientation least likely to cause problems?

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Links to other topics

  • C.3.3How can a coach's motivational climate shift an athlete's achievement orientation?
  • C.3.2Is a task-oriented athlete more likely to be intrinsically motivated, and why?
  • B.3.1.1Might athletes who doubt, or overrate, their own ability be more likely to get injured?