Learned helplessness and mastery orientation

Overview

General and specific learned helplessness, attributions that cause it, effects on performance and participation, late developers, mastery orientation, praising effort, and the tennis player who cannot beat one rival.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1. 1

   What is learned helplessness?

   Model answer

   Learned helplessness is a belief, built from past failure, that failure is inevitable. The performer feels unable to change the outcome.

2. 2

   How do attributions lead to learned helplessness?

   Model answer

   Repeated failure is blamed on internal, stable and uncontrollable causes such as a lack of ability. The performer comes to expect failure whatever effort is made.

3. 3

   What is the difference between general and specific learned helplessness?

   Model answer

   General learned helplessness spreads across all sports and activities. Specific learned helplessness applies to one sport or one skill.

4. 4

   Give an example of specific learned helplessness.

   Model answer

   A footballer who keeps missing penalties may believe he will never score one. The same player may still play confidently in open play.

5. 5

   Explain how learned helplessness acts as a barrier to sports performance.

   Model answer

   A helpless performer lowers effort and avoids challenges. Poor performance then confirms the belief that failure is certain.

6. 6

   How might learned helplessness affect participation in sport?

   Model answer

   A helpless performer may avoid an activity altogether to escape further failure. A child who believes they are bad at sport may drop out.

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