Facilitating Feelings of Self-Determination and Intrinsic Motivation in Athletes Tony Amorose, Ph.D. Illinois State University

Questions? Why do people get involved in sport? Why do they continue to participate?

Common Motives for Sport Participation

The Nature of Motivation According to Self-Determination Theory motives can be classified along a continuum of self-determinationmotives can be classified along a continuum of self-determination

non self-determined Continuum of Self-Determination self-determined Intrinsic Motivation Extrinsic Motivation Amotivation integratedregulationidentifiedregulationintrojectedregulationexternalregulation

Intrinsic Motivation (IM) types of intrinsic motivation…types of intrinsic motivation… –IM to know –IM to accomplish –IM to experience stimulation

Extrinsic Motivation (EM) types of extrinsic motivation…types of extrinsic motivation… –integrated regulation –identified regulation –introjected regulation –external regulation

Amotivation (AM)

Question? How would you classify these motives?

“For the excitement I feel when I am really involved in the activity.” “For the prestige of being an athlete.” “Because I would feel bad if I was not taking time to do it.” “For the pleasure it gives me to know more about the sport I practice.” “Because it is one of the best ways I have chosen to develop other aspects of myself.” “It is not clear to me anymore; I don’t think my place is in sport anymore.” Why Do You Practice Your Sport?

Important Points people have multiple motivespeople have multiple motives likely a combination of intrinsic and extrinsic reasonslikely a combination of intrinsic and extrinsic reasons Key Questions which reasons are most important? do you participate primarily for intrinsic or extrinsic reasons?

Motivational Orientation intrinsic motivational orientation extrinsic motivational orientation Question…Which are You?

Question? Does it matter if we are more intrinsically or extrinsically motivated?

Potential Benefits Those with an intrinsic motivational orientation (i.e., more self-determined motivation) are more likely to…

Question? How can we promote or facilitate intrinsic motivation in sport participants?

Wonder Years Video Describe Paul’s motivated behavior at the beginning, middle, and end of the show. Speculate on the primary reasons why Paul participates at these points in the show (intrinsic vs. extrinsic). What are some specific factors (personal, situational) that may have contributed to the change in Paul’s motivation?

Self-Determination Theory (SDT) Basic Premise the fulfillment of the basic needs of competence, autonomy, and relatedness are essential for the facilitation of self- determined motivation, social development, and personal well-being

Three Basic Needs need for competence – need for autonomy (self-determination) – need for relatedness –

Cognitive Evaluation Theory (CET) sub-theory within SDTsub-theory within SDT goal is to specify conditions that support or undermine IMgoal is to specify conditions that support or undermine IM IM will be maximized…IM will be maximized…

Key Point Any event (external or internal) which can affect perceived competence or self- determination will ultimately impact IM Possible events?

Functional Aspect of Events 1. controlling aspect –related to feeling or autonomy or self-determination event perceived as “controlling” decreased autonomy decreased intrinsic motivation event perceived as providing “choice” increased autonomy increased intrinsic motivation

Functional Aspect of Events 2. informational aspect –related to feelings of competence if event provides positive info increased perceived competence increased intrinsic motivation if event provides negative info decreased perceived competence decreased intrinsic motivation

Important Point It is the functional significance of the events that will impact IM Which aspect is most important or salient to the individual? How does the individual perceive the event?

Other Important Points IM is only evident for activities that are…IM is only evident for activities that are… – – changes in perceived competence will only affect IM under conditions where the one feels autonomouschanges in perceived competence will only affect IM under conditions where the one feels autonomous relatedness has a more distal affect on IMrelatedness has a more distal affect on IM

Research on IM rewardsrewards competitioncompetition coaching/instructor feedbackcoaching/instructor feedback leadership styles and behaviorsleadership styles and behaviors

Research on Rewards and IM 1.Random Assignment to Groups control (no reward)control (no reward) experimental (received reward for participation)experimental (received reward for participation) 2.Perform an Interesting Task (e.g., puzzle, game) 3.Experimental Group Receives Reward 4.Experimenter Leaves 5.Free Choice Period 6.Time Spent on Task as Measure of IM Basic Procedures of Lab Research

Results Conclusion

Potential Problems?

Scholarships and IM Purpose To determine whether scholarship and non- scholarship athletes differed on level of IM Method male football players scholarshipscholarship non-scholarshipnon-scholarshipMeasures IM (i.e., enjoyment, free time spent practicing, participate without scholarship?) Ryan (1977)

Results Conclusion

Ryan (1980) Basic Results … replicated earlier study but examined football players, wrestlers, and female athletes from a variety of sports How can you explain these results?

Explanation of Results Using CET wrestlers and female athletes football players

Conclusions 1.rewards are not necessarily bad, rather it depends on how they are perceived 2.there are conditions where rewards are not detrimental to IM 3.rewards will not undermine IM if there was no interest in the activity in the first place

Research on IM rewardsrewards competitioncompetition coaching/instructor feedbackcoaching/instructor feedback leadership styles and behaviorsleadership styles and behaviors

Leadership Styles and IM Question? How should the following leadership styles influence athletes’ IM?

Hollembeak and Amorose (in press) Purpose To test whether perceived competence, autonomy, and relatedness mediate the relationship between athletes’ perceptions of their coaches’ behavior and the athletes’ IM To determine the specific coaching behaviors that are positively or negatively related to IM

Methods Participants Division I college athletes (M age = 19.73)Division I college athletes (M age = 19.73) –male (n = 146) –female (n = 134) –various individual and team sports years of participation (M =10.19, SD =1.36)years of participation (M =10.19, SD =1.36) years with current coach (M =1.40, SD =1.42)years with current coach (M =1.40, SD =1.42)

Measures perceived coaching behaviors (LSS)perceived coaching behaviors (LSS) intrinsic motivation (SMS)intrinsic motivation (SMS) fundamental needs according to SDTfundamental needs according to SDT –perceived competence –autonomy –relatedness

Results mediational effect of needs coaching behaviors as positive or negative predictors of IM

Full Model Training and Instruction Positive Feedback Autocratic Behavior Democratic Behavior Social Support Perceived Competence Relatedness Intrinsic Motivation Autonomy “Model is a perfect fit!”

Mediational Model Training and Instruction Positive Feedback Autocratic Behavior Democratic Behavior Social Support Perceived Competence Relatedness Intrinsic Motivation Autonomy

Training and Instruction Positive Feedback Autocratic Behavior Democratic Behavior Social Support Perceived Competence Relatedness Intrinsic Motivation Hypothesized Model Autonomy

Modified Mediational Model Training and Instruction Positive Feedback Autocratic Behavior Democratic Behavior Social Support Perceived Competence Relatedness Intrinsic Motivation Autonomy

Results mediational effect of needs coaching behaviors as positive or negative predictors of IM groups differences in pattern of relationships?

Limitations only considered IM other behaviors that may impact motivation Practical Implications democratic coaching styles may facilitate more intrinsically motivated athletes

Summary IM affected by perceptions of competence, autonomy, and relatednessIM affected by perceptions of competence, autonomy, and relatedness important given benefits of IM orientationimportant given benefits of IM orientation SDT is practical in sense that we can use this information to facilitate IMSDT is practical in sense that we can use this information to facilitate IM

Question? How can we promote or facilitate… perceived competenceperceived competence autonomyautonomy relatednessrelatedness