3.5 Attribution Theory
Attribution Theory –
What is it?
 Attribution theory looks at the reasons coaches or players
give in response to their success or failure in sport.
 Strongly links to ‘achievement motivation’ – can impact
on coaches and players motivation to continue.
 Attribution theory is important for coaches as it can give
insight into the beliefs of their players.
Weiner’ (1970’s) Model of Attribution
 Wasn’t specifically created for sport but can be applied easily.
Process of attributing performance has three stages:
 Performers must be aware of their own performance.
 Performers must accept the performance was intentional.
 Performers must accept that the performance is a result of
internal or external factors.
 2 dimensional model.
Weiner’s Model
Locus of Causality
Stability
Stable
Unstable
Internal
External
Ability
Task
Difficulty
Effort
Luck
The 4
categories of
attribution
Weiner later added 3rd dimension – Locus of Control
With success players tend to attribute their performance to
internal factors: - Self-serving Bias
With failure players tend to attribute their performance to
external factors
Dependant on what we attribute our success or failure to, can have
a significant effect on our future motivation.
 Internal factors (success) - increase self esteem + motivation
Coaches encourage performers to attribute the result to unstable
or controllable factors, preventing damage to self esteem.
What are they attributing to...?
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StPkGbiT6TU – Rooney & RVP
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvmY858YJMc – David Hay
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJtVEStfxSg – Steve Francis
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eAkW4Rv78U – Arsene Wenger
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oleKfixy-7A - Tracey Mcgrady
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eSLkMNJAbo – A vs T yesterday
 Tough to find any interviews / clips where performers give internal
stable reasons for their failure.
Learned Helplessness
 If we attribute failure to internal and stable factors, we suffer
from Learned Helplessness
Characteristics of learned Helplessness
- Performer believes they have limited ability
- focus on outcome goals (win / loss) rather than process goals
(number of passes etc..)
- Unwilling to try new skills – believe they cannot succeed.
- Attribute to stable and uncontrollable factors.
- Do not believe even the controllable factors (effort) will have an
impact on the result.
- Learned Helplessness : - Specific to one situation
- Over a variety of sports
Attribution Retraining
 Performers are encouraged to focus on attributing failure to
areas where they have control to allow for future success.
“Your ability and effort was good, but perhaps you are playing in
the wrong position.”
A coach can use strategies such as:
- Learning what players tend to attribute to (observe and listen)
- Draw their attention to progression and change
- Re focus on task / process goals instead of outcome
- Monitor progress for future
- Try and ensure initial success to avoid Learned Helplessness.