Elite sport psychology/motivation/describing motivation

Motivation is a key determinant of human behaviour. Humans have a deep-rooted drive to explore and master their environment – it’s part of our evolutionary make-up. No one is completely devoid of motivation, but our motivational characteristics can manifest in varied behaviours, ranging from sitting on a couch watching television to training for a marathon.  Motivation varies from person to person, from day to day, and from situation to situation.  Like other psychological skills, motivation must be unlocked and regulated using effective strategies.

Motivation has three key components:

• Selectivity – the tendency to pursue one activity over another.
• Intensity – the amount of energy devoted to the activity.
• Persistence – the tendency to continue an activity until a particular aim is achieved.

Can you give an example of when you felt motivated?

• What were you trying to achieve?
• Why did you pursue this activity over others?
• How much energy did you put into it?
• Did you persist with it until it was completed or did you give up?

Click on the toggle bar below when you have answered the questions.

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In your reflection, you may have identified a powerful motivation for an activity, which you pursued doggedly until you succeeded. Alternatively you may have felt ambivalent about the activity and approached it half-heartedly.

Two important aspects of personality that affect motivation in competitive situations, referred to as need for achievement and fear of failure, are discussed below.

How need for achievement and fear of failure influence motivation for competition

Need for achievement (NA) refers to the degree to which an individual is naturally competitive and actively seeks out the sort of challenge that sport provides.  Fear of failure (FF) refers to negative attitudes and behavioural responses we may need to overcome in order to be successful. Of course, no athlete enjoys defeat, but it can be more damaging to some than others.

Take a look at the personality type descriptions on the slider below. Which do you feel best describes you?

• Type 1
• Type 2
• Type 3
• Type 4

• ==== Type 1 ==== This person will often leave jobs unfinished or lose interest in activities. They will avoid competition if possible, but might compete against someone they will easily beat, such as playing tennis against their neighbour’s six year old son.
• ==== Type 2 ==== This person feels indifferent towards competition and would probably wonder why people make such a fuss about winning or losing. “After all, it’s only a game, they might say.”
• ==== Type 3 ==== This person loves competition, especially where the outcome is uncertain. They are full of energy towards a particular goal, they take calculated risks, and they love to win but realise that losing is not the end of the world. They are very persistent and highly self-motivated. These are ideal characteristics for a champion athlete.
• ==== Type 4 ==== This person enjoys competitive situations and takes personal responsibility for outcomes, but failure causes self-doubt and lower self-esteem. This inner conflict often emerges in poor sportsmanship, an unwillingness to take risks, decreased persistence, and even psychosomatic illnesses. As a result of these traits, many sports people fail to reach their potential.

In scrolling through the four personality types, you may have felt that none of them described you. You may feel that you have a moderate need for achievement and a moderate fear of failure. This is perfectly normal. Perhaps an important takeaway message for you to consider, is that some athletes have to work hard to nurture and sustain motivation because of their own personality characteristics.

Intrinsic and extrinsic motivation

Another way of describing motivation is to think about what directs it.  Motivation can be driven by forces that are outside the individual or internal to the self.

Motivation that is external to the individual is known as extrinsic motivation.  Examples of extrinsic motivation include winning money or medals, approval of others, or obtaining fame and glory.

Motivation that comes from within is known as intrinsic motivation. In general terms, it is seen by psychologists as the most powerful form of motivation as it relates to doing something for pure enjoyment or as an end in itself.  A classic example of intrinsic motivation is to see a young child playing with their toys.  They are are motivated by the pure enjoyment of play and the imaginative possibilities it offers.

In sport, as in life, it is not possible to do everything just for pure enjoyment. It’s doubtful that many athletes enjoy training outdoors in cold wet weather but often it’s necessary.  Extrinsic motivators also provide powerful influences on behaviour, but their effect will vary depending on the individual and their personal values.

Winning a medal, although external to the self, is often an extremely powerful motivating force because it represents a reward for all the hard work of training, and the honing of skills, plus it symbolises recognition from the sporting community.

Activity

Intrinsic or extrinsic motivation?

Michael Jordan is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. Like all great athletes, he worked extremely hard to reach the pinnacle of his chosen sport. He has accrued great wealth and worldwide fame, yet watch the video linked below and decide if his motivation came from within or extrinsically.

• Michael Jordan – The Drive

Share your thoughts with others:

• What is Michael Jordan’s primary source of motivation – extrinsic, intrinsic, or both?
• What are his personal values?
• What is his likely combination of Need for Achievement and Fear of Failure?

• Post your ideas on the discussion forum

Short-track Speed Skating in Korea

Go further

• Read about extrinsic rewards in Short-track Speed Skating in Korea (from Secrets of Asian Sport Psychology) and consider how you would go about motivating an Olympic athlete.