PSY407 Sport psychology GDB.1 solution Fall November 2014



Discussion Question:

Do you agree or not that task orientation is more effective than ego-orientation for developing the self-confidence of athletes?

Justify your stance by giving some logical arguments!

Important Instructions:

1. Your discussion must be based on logical facts.

2. The GDB will remain open for 2 working days/ 48 hours.

3. Do not copy or exchange your answer with other students. Two identical / copied comments will be marked Zero (0) and may damage your grade in the course.

4. Obnoxious or ignoble answer should be strictly avoided.

5. Questions / queries related to the content of the GDB, which may be posted by the students on MDB or via e-mail, will not be replied till the due date of GDB is over






GOAL INVOLVEMENT

There are two types of goal perspective. One is referred to as goal orientation and the other is goal involvement. Both are related to success, goal orientation related to success in general, whereas goal involvement is related to situation specific success. As described earlier, goal orientation is the motivation to achieve a goal in sport. However goal involvement is a situation-specific state measure of how an individual relates to an achievement situation at a specific point in time. Goal involvement can be further divided into two categories; task or mastery involvement, and ego or competitive involvement. Situations that heighten awareness of social evaluation induce a state of ego involvement, accompanied by feelings if increase anxiety. Conversely situations that do not heighten an awareness of social evaluation evoke a state of task involvement, accompanied by feelings of low anxiety. To be ego involved is to display characteristics of an ego-oriented person in a specific situation. To be task involved is to display characteristics of a task-oriented person in a specific situation.

MOTIVATIONAL CLIMATE

Perhaps of greater import than whether an individual is task- or ego-oriented is the motivational climate that the individual is placed in. Just as individuals can be task or ego oriented, learning environment can also be task or ego oriented. The environment could be ego-oriented, with its emphasis upon social comparison. A mastery climate is one in which athletes receives positive reinforcement from the coach when they (a) work hard (b) demonstrate improvement (c) help other learn through cooperation, and (d) Believe that each player’s contribution is important. A competitive Climate is one in which athletes perceive that (a) poor performance and mistakes will be punished (b) high-ability athletes will receive the most attention and recognition, and (c) competition between team members is encouraged by coach.

Characteristics of different types of Goal Orientation, Goal Involvement, and motivational Climate

Goal Orientation (Personality trait)

1. Task or Mastery Orientation

a. Effort important

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b. Mastery Important

2. Ego or Competitive Orientation a. Social comparisons important

b. Wining important

Goal Involvement (Psychological State)

1. task or Mastery Involvement

a. Athlete works hard

b. Athlete strives for master

2. Ego or Competitive Involvement

a. Athlete defines ability as winning

b. Athlete strives to win

Motivational Climate (Environment)

1. Mastery Climate

a. Effort rewarded

b. Cooperation emphasized

2. Competitive climate

a. Mistakes punished

b. Competition encouraged