CIC Sports Psychology & Motivation 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which motivational theory distinguishes between intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation, and amotivation on a continuum of self-determination?
- Achievement Goal Theory
- Self-Determination Theory (Correct answer)
- Expectancy-Value Theory
- Cognitive Evaluation Theory
Correct answer: Self-Determination Theory
Self-Determination Theory (SDT) by Deci and Ryan places motivation on a continuum from amotivation through extrinsic to intrinsic regulation.
Question 2: A high school basketball player repeatedly tells herself 'I am calm and focused' before free throws. This is an example of:
- Thought stopping
- Positive self-talk (Correct answer)
- Attentional focusing
- Cognitive restructuring
Correct answer: Positive self-talk
Positive self-talk involves using affirming internal statements to enhance confidence and regulate arousal before performance.
Question 3: According to Bandura's social cognitive theory, which source of self-efficacy has the greatest impact on an athlete's belief in their ability?
- Verbal persuasion from coaches
- Physiological and affective states
- Vicarious experiences
- Mastery experiences (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Mastery experiences
Mastery experiences (personal performance accomplishments) are the most powerful source of self-efficacy because they provide direct evidence of capability.
Question 4: When a coach focuses solely on external rewards like trophies, what risk does this pose to athletes' long-term motivation?
- Athletes develop ego orientation
- Intrinsic motivation may be undermined (Correct answer)
- Athletes become more autonomously motivated
- Team cohesion improves but individual drive declines
Correct answer: Intrinsic motivation may be undermined
Over-reliance on external rewards can crowd out intrinsic motivation, a phenomenon known as the overjustification effect.
Question 5: A coach notices an athlete performs well in practice but freezes during competition. The most likely psychological explanation is:
- Low trait anxiety
- Overtraining syndrome
- Competitive state anxiety (Correct answer)
- Learned helplessness
Correct answer: Competitive state anxiety
Competitive state anxiety is a situational response to competitive stress that can impair performance despite adequate skill.
Question 6: The concept of 'choking under pressure' is best explained by which psychological mechanism?
- Distraction theories suggest attention shifts to task-irrelevant cues (Correct answer)
- Drive theory predicts dominant responses are always incorrect
- Catastrophe theory shows gradual performance decline
- Reversal theory claims all pressure leads to regression
Correct answer: Distraction theories suggest attention shifts to task-irrelevant cues
Attentional distraction models explain choking as occurring when pressure redirects focus away from the task to self-monitoring or external distractions.
Question 7: Which team-building strategy is most effective for improving task cohesion in interscholastic sport?
- Hosting social events unrelated to sport
- Clarifying individual roles and collective goals (Correct answer)
- Reducing practice intensity to lower conflict
- Allowing athletes to set their own attendance rules
Correct answer: Clarifying individual roles and collective goals
Task cohesion improves when athletes understand their roles and share clear performance goals, aligning individual contributions to team success.
CIC Sports Psychology & Motivation 2
Which motivational theory distinguishes between intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation, and amotivation on a continuum of self-determination?