Achievement Motivation

Lesson Objectives

By the end of the lesson you will understand:

• The meaning of the term ‘achievement motivation’

• The link between personality and the motive to achieve.

What is motivation?

• Desire to fulfil a need.

• Drive to achieve a goal.

• Something that directs behaviour.

• Enables a person to focus or concentrate on a particular task.

The theory of ‘achievement motivation’ attempts to link personality with competitiveness.

The main issue centres on the extent to which an individual is motivated to attain success.

Biddle suggested that there are several types of goal against which success can be judged.

• Mastery/task/process goals – Self improvement (personal best, improving shooting technique etc.)

• Ego/ability/performance/product goals – Involve a comparison against a rival. For example winning a championship/league would mean defeating all opponents.

• Socially approved goals – these involve seeking social reinforcement as a measure of success. For example winning to please parents, peers or coaches.

Atkinson and McClelland’s research

They came up with an interactionist perspective. They believed that motivation was generated through a combination of personality and situational factors.

High Nach

Low Naf High Naf

Low Nach

TAS: people with the tendency to

approach success

TAF: people with the tendency to

avoid failure

Nach = Need to achieve

Naf = Need to avoid failure

In every challenging situation, everyone will have both a need to achieve (Nach) and a need to avoid failure (Naf).

Whichever feeling is stronger will determine whether a task is accepted or declined.

TAS Types• Motivated to succeed• Not worried about failure• More competitive• stimulated by situations involving risk• rise to challenges and adopt ‘approach behaviours.

TAF Types• Worried by the prospect so they lack a competitive edge.• Motivated to avoid failure.• Avoid risk situations and show ‘avoidance behaviours.

probability of success and incentive value

High

HighProbability of success

IncentiveValue

Task 1 - TAS

Task 2 - TAF

Atkinson and McClellands theory is best at predicting situations where there is a 50/50 chance of success.

• In these situations the motivation to succeed is strongest in TAS types as they enjoy competing against others of equal ability and being evaluated on the basis of ego/ability goals.

• Low achievers fear negative evaluation associated with failure and so a 50/50 chance of this causes maximum uncertainty and stress about the performance.

Example

TAF

TAS

TAF

TAF types would either select a very easy shot to ensure success or take a near impossible shot to protect self esteem (this is called ‘heroic failure syndrome’).

TAS types would select a 50/50 shot to provide themselves with a challenge which would provide high incentive if achieved.

Strength Of

motivation

Probability of success

0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

The interactionist model predicts that in 50/50 chance situations, TAS types will be at their highest point of motivation and are most

likely to take a risk.