Explain how negative motivation affects an athlete's performance and participation in sport. (5 marks)
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Sample Answer
- Negative motivation creates immediate psychological pressure during competition. This leads to athletes focusing on avoiding failure rather than achieving success, which results in indecision and risk aversion.
- The fear associated with negative approaches causes reduced creativity in performance. Athletes default to safe, predictable strategies because they prioritise avoiding punishment over optimal execution.
- Performance anxiety increases when athletes are motivated by threats or criticism. Consequently, physical symptoms like muscle tension develop that directly impair technical skills and decision-making abilities.
- While negative motivation may produce short-term improvements, sustained use erodes athlete confidence over time. The underlying reason is that constant fear undermines self-belief and creates a destructive cycle of declining performance.
- Long-term participation suffers because intrinsic enjoyment becomes diminished. Athletes are more likely to discontinue sport when external pressures are removed, as they have learned to associate performance with avoiding consequences rather than personal satisfaction.
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Sample Answer
- Negative motivation creates immediate psychological pressure during competition. This leads to athletes focusing on avoiding failure rather than achieving success, which results in indecision and risk aversion.
- The fear associated with negative approaches causes reduced creativity in performance. Athletes default to safe, predictable strategies because they prioritise avoiding punishment over optimal execution.
- Performance anxiety increases when athletes are motivated by threats or criticism. Consequently, physical symptoms like muscle tension develop that directly impair technical skills and decision-making abilities.
- While negative motivation may produce short-term improvements, sustained use erodes athlete confidence over time. The underlying reason is that constant fear undermines self-belief and creates a destructive cycle of declining performance.
- Long-term participation suffers because intrinsic enjoyment becomes diminished. Athletes are more likely to discontinue sport when external pressures are removed, as they have learned to associate performance with avoiding consequences rather than personal satisfaction.