Motivation is the direction and intensity of effort. What Is Motivation? Motivation is the direction and intensity of effort. Direction of effort: Whether an individual seeks out, approaches, or is attracted to a situation. Intensity of effort: How much effort an individual puts forth in a situation. Direction and intensity of effort are closely related.

Talk informally to others Ask participants directly How to Identify Participant Motives Observe participants Talk informally to others Ask participants directly

Major Motives for Sport Participants Improving skills Having fun Being with friends Experiencing thrills and excitement Achieving success Developing fitness

3 Views of Motivation Participant – or Trait–Centered View Motivated behavior is primarily a function of individual characteristics (e.g., needs, goals, personality).

Situation – Centered View Motivated behavior is primarily determined by situational factors.

Interactional View Motivated behavior results from the interaction of participant factors and situational factors.

Developing a Realistic View of Motivation Motivation is a key variable in learning, performance and rehabilitation contexts. Other physical and psychological factors beyond motivation influence behavior and must be considered. Some motivational factors are more easily influenced than others.

Achievement Motivation An individual’s orientation to strive for task success, persist in the face of failure, and experience pride in accomplishments.

Competitiveness “A disposition to strive for satisfaction when making comparisons with some standard of excellence in the presence of evaluative others.”

Keys: Competitiveness = Social evaluation or comparison Achievement motivation = Self-comparison or achievement

Four Theories of Achievement Motivation in Sport & Exercise Contexts

Need Achievement Theory

Attribution Theory Attributions How people explain their successes and failures

External Internal Unstable Luck Effort Ability/Trait Stable Task

Achievement Goal Theory Achievement goals Outcome goal orientation (or competitive goal orientation) focuses on comparing performance with others and defeating others. Task goal orientation (or mastery goal orientation) focuses on improving relative to one’s own past performances.

Achievement Goal Theory Keys in Rehab Setting Focus extra attention on task-oriented goals. Foster mastery or task motivational climates.

Competence Motivation Theory Keys in Rehab Setting People are motivated to feel worthy or competent. Feelings of competence and worth, as well as perceptions of control, determine motives.

What Theories of Achievement Motivation Tell Us About High Achievers 1. High motivation to achieve success 2. Low motivation to achieve failure 3. Focuses on the pride of success 4. Attributes success to stable and internal factors within one’s control 5. Attributes failure to unstable and external factors outside one’s control

6. Has high perceived competence and 6. Has high perceived competence and feels that achievement is within his or her control 7. Seeks out challenges and able competitors/tasks 8. Performs well in evaluative conditions

What Theories of Achievement Motivation Tell Us About Low Achievers 1. Low motivation to achieve success 2. High motivation to achieve failure 3. Focuses on shame and worry that may result from failure 4. Has low perceived competence and feels that achievement is outside his or her control

9. Performs poorly in evaluative conditions 5. Ascribes success to unstable and external factors outside one’s control 6. Ascribes failure to stable and internal factors within one’s control 7. Usually adopts outcome goals 8. Avoids challenges; seeks out very difficult or very easy tasks/ competitors 9. Performs poorly in evaluative conditions

Five Guidelines for Building Motivation in Rehabilitation

Both situations and traits motivate people. Guideline 1 Guidelines for Building Motivation Both situations and traits motivate people.

People have multiple motives for involvement. Guideline 2 Guidelines for Building Motivation People have multiple motives for involvement.

Change the environment to enhance motivation. Guideline 3 Guidelines for Building Motivation Change the environment to enhance motivation.

Leaders influence motivation, directly and indirectly. Guideline 4 Guidelines for Building Motivation Leaders influence motivation, directly and indirectly.

Guidelines for Building Motivation Use behavior modification methods to change undesirable participant motives. Positive reinforcements Appropriate attributions Goal –setting (task vs. outcome focus)