Attribution Theory

What Attribution Theory covers

Attribution Theory is examined in Paper 2, Factors affecting optimal performance in physical activity and sport. It covers the attribution process and Weiner's model, attribution, task persistence and self-serving bias, learned helplessness, general and specific and attribution retraining and overcoming helplessness.

The 4 subtopics

Each one has its own page.

• The attribution process and Weiner's modelAttributions and the attribution process, Weiner's locus of causality and stability, ability, effort, task difficulty and luck, and controllability.Open →
• Attribution, task persistence and self-serving biasTask persistence, attributions that protect motivation after success and defeat, how performers with a high need to achieve or to avoid failure explain a defeat, and the self-serving bias.Open →
• Learned helplessness, general and specificLearned helplessness and how attributions cause it, general and specific helplessness, its signs and effects, and its links to stability and controllability.Open →
• Attribution retraining and overcoming helplessnessAttribution retraining for failure and success, short-term goals, past successes, praise, modified tasks and self-efficacy.Open →

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Take Attribution Theory further

The same content, four other ways.

Commonly confused

Pairs that lose marks when they are blurred together.

• General learned helplessness vs Specific learned helplessness

  General learned helplessness: a belief that failure is certain across every physical activity. Specific learned helplessness: a belief that failure is certain in one particular sport or skill.

• Locus of causality vs Stability

  Locus of causality: whether a cause lies inside or outside the performer. Stability: whether a cause is fixed or changeable over time.

• Ability vs Effort

  Ability: an internal, stable cause such as natural talent. Effort: an internal, unstable cause such as how hard the performer tried.

Questions from this topic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1. 1

   What is an attribution in sport psychology?

   Model answer

   An attribution is the reason a performer gives for the outcome of a performance. The reason can explain a success or a failure.

2. 2

   Describe the attribution process.

   Model answer

   A performer experiences an outcome and then looks for its cause. The cause they settle on shapes their emotions and future motivation.

3. 3

   Name the two dimensions of Weiner's model.

   Model answer

   The two dimensions are locus of causality and stability.

4. 4

   What does locus of causality describe?

   Model answer

   Locus of causality describes whether a cause lies inside or outside the performer. Internal causes come from the performer, while external causes come from the environment.

5. 5

   What does the stability dimension describe?

   Model answer

   Stability describes whether a cause is fixed or changeable over time. A stable cause is likely to be present again next time.

6. 6

   Name the four attributions in Weiner's model.

   Model answer

   The four attributions are ability, effort, task difficulty and luck.

What is inside Levo

Six ways to work the same material.

Attribution Theory revision questions

What does Attribution Theory cover in AQA A-Level Physical Education?

4 subtopics: the attribution process and weiner's model, attribution, task persistence and self-serving bias, learned helplessness, general and specific and attribution retraining and overcoming helplessness. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.

How is Attribution Theory organised?

By the AQA 7582 specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.