A LEVEL PE

Attribution theory looks at the reasons given by coaches and players themselves to account for successes and failures in their sport.

Some athletes will view the outcomes of a sporting performance as something that is directly under their control whereas other athletes will view the outcome as being influenced by external factors which they are not able to control.

• internal - when the individual uses personal reasons as the cause for a situation or event.
• external - when the individual uses environmental reasons as the cause for a situation or an event.
• stable - when the individual uses a reason that is permanent and unchangeable.
• unstable - when the individual uses a reason that is temporary and changeable.

links between attribution, task persistence and motivation: 

athletes and their coaches must attribute the athlete successes and failures correctly for them to maintain high levels of motivation. without motivation, training will not be productive, athletes will not want to learn and develop, and athletes may not want to continue with their sport.

motivation is important because it is associated with task persistence (where a person still works towards their goal or outcome despite setbacks and hardships along the way.

self-serving bias:

self-serving bias involves using external and unstable reasons for losing.

athletes di this to promote self-esteem, and remain motivated…