Explain how negative motivation affects an athlete's performance and participation in sport. (5 marks)
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- Negative motivation through threats or fear of punishment creates psychological pressure that can lead to indecision and risk aversion during competition, as athletes focus on avoiding failure rather than achieving success.
- Athletes motivated primarily by fear often experience reduced creativity and innovation in their performance, defaulting to safe, predictable approaches rather than optimal strategic choices.
- While negative motivation may produce short-term performance improvements, sustained use typically erodes an athlete’s confidence and self-belief, creating a destructive cycle that undermines long-term development.
- The stress associated with negative motivational approaches can increase performance anxiety, causing physical symptoms like muscle tension that directly impair technical execution.
- Athletes experiencing predominantly negative motivation are more likely to discontinue participation when external pressures are removed, as their intrinsic enjoyment of the activity has been diminished by associating performance with avoiding negative consequences.
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Sample Answer
- Negative motivation through threats or fear of punishment creates psychological pressure that can lead to indecision and risk aversion during competition, as athletes focus on avoiding failure rather than achieving success.
- Athletes motivated primarily by fear often experience reduced creativity and innovation in their performance, defaulting to safe, predictable approaches rather than optimal strategic choices.
- While negative motivation may produce short-term performance improvements, sustained use typically erodes an athlete’s confidence and self-belief, creating a destructive cycle that undermines long-term development.
- The stress associated with negative motivational approaches can increase performance anxiety, causing physical symptoms like muscle tension that directly impair technical execution.
- Athletes experiencing predominantly negative motivation are more likely to discontinue participation when external pressures are removed, as their intrinsic enjoyment of the activity has been diminished by associating performance with avoiding negative consequences.