Affective Consequences of Winning and Losing: An Attributional Analysis

1983 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 278-287 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward McAuley ◽  
Dan Russell ◽  
John B. Gross
Keyword(s):  
Academic Achievement ◽  
Causal Attributions ◽  
Important Determinant ◽  
Performance Outcomes ◽  
Table Tennis ◽  
Affective Reactions ◽  
Locus Of Causality ◽  
Attributional Analysis ◽  
Affective Consequences ◽  
Causal Dimension

Previous research in academic achievement settings has indicated that causal attributions for success and failure outcomes are important determinants of affective reactions to those outcomes. This study examined the relationships between the dimensions underlying causal attributions (termed causal dimensions) and affective reactions to performance outcomes in table tennis. Attribution processes were found to be important determinants of affective reactions, particularly for winners. In contrast to previous findings, the locus of causality dimension was not found to be an important determinant of affect. Instead, the controllability dimension appeared to be the most influential causal dimension. The implications of these findings for research on attribution-affect relationships are discussed.

Perceptions of Causality In Sport: An Application of the Causal Dimension Scale

1983 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 72-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward McAuley ◽  
John B. Gross
Keyword(s):  
Causal Attributions ◽  
Causal Attribution ◽  
Table Tennis ◽  
Methodological Issues ◽  
Reliable Measure ◽  
Scale Reliability ◽  
Causal Statement ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Causal Dimension

One of the more problematic methodological issues in attributional research has been the accurate classification, by researchers, of causal attributions made by respondents along causal dimensions. Closed-ended and open-ended approaches have been logical but limiting solutions to assessing attributions. Russell (1982) has the Causal Dimension Scale, a measure that allows the respondent to record a causal statement and indicate how he or she perceives that causal attribution in terms of causal dimensions. The present study examined the effects of winning and losing at table-tennis upon causal attributions using the Causal Dimension Scale. Reliability of the measure was assessed in a sport setting and the relationship between respondents' perceptions of attributions in terms of causal dimensions and judges' perception of the same were examined. The Causal Dimension Scale was found to be a reliable measure of how individuals perceive attributions in terms of causal dimensions. Winners' attributions were more internal, stable, and controllable than those of losers but attributions were of an internal, unstable, and controllable nature for both winners and losers.

Causal Attributions of Winners and Losers in Individual Competitive Sports: Toward a Reformulation of the Self-Serving Bias

1984 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 184-196 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melvin M. Mark ◽  
Manette Mutrie ◽  
David R. Brooks ◽  
Dorothy V. Harris
Keyword(s):  
Causal Attributions ◽  
The Self ◽  
Competitive Sports ◽  
Locus Of Causality ◽  
Ability Levels ◽  
Individual Sports ◽  
Causal Dimension ◽  
Made In

The achievement oriented world of sport has been a frequent setting for the study of attributions for success and failure. However, it may be inappropriate to generalize from previous research to attributions made in actual, organized, competitive, individual sports because previous studies suffer from one or more of three characteristics which may limit their generalizability to such settings: previous studies have employed novel tasks, staged the competition for research purposes, or examined attribution about team success or failure. The present research was conducted (a) to avoid these limitations to generalizability, (b) to examine whether competitors who differ in experience or ability make different attributions for success and failure, and (c) to employ an attribution measure that does not rely too much on the researchers' interpretation of the subjects' attributions as past techniques have done. Two studies were conducted examining the attributions made by winners and losers in the second round of organized squash (Study 1) and racquetball (Study 2) tournaments. Subjects reported their attributions on the Causal Dimension Scale developed by Russell (1982). Results indicate no difference between players of different experience/ability levels. In addition, winners and losers did not differ in the locus of causality of their attributions, but winners, relative to losers, made more stable and controllable attributions. Implications of these results were discussed first in terms of the debate over self-serving bias in attributions, and second, in terms of the effects of ability and experience on attributions.

THE EFFECTS OF SELF-ESTEEM AND EXPECTANCIES FOR SUCCESS ON AFFECTIVE REACTIONS TO ACHIEVEMENT

1992 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 273-282 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert M. Midkiff ◽  
Felicia A. Griffin
Keyword(s):  
Academic Performance ◽  
University Students ◽  
Causal Attributions ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Affective Reactions ◽  
Performance Outcome

Affective reactions to academic performance appear to be influenced by performance outcome, self-esteem, and causal attributions. We investigated whether expectancies for success and the confirmation or disconfirmation of epectancies also influenced students' affective reactions and causal attributions in achievement settings. Subjects were 132 university students. Causal attributions and affective reactions to an achievement-related situation were assessed and related to students' self-esteem, expectancies for success, and confirmation or disconfirmation of expectancies. Results indicated that causal attributions were related to confirmation or disconfirmation of expectancies for success and to self-esteem. Affective reactions were related to the interaction of self-esteem, expectancies for success, and confirmation or disconfirmation of expectancies. Further analysis suggested that students' affective reactions to performance may serve to maintain existing levels of self-esteem. The role of self-referent and other-referent emotions in self-esteem maintenance was also discussed.

Arousal of Achievement Motivation with Causal Attributions

1969 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 539-542 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saul Breit
Keyword(s):  
Achievement Motivation ◽  
Causal Attributions ◽  
Attributional Analysis

47 Ss wrote essays arousing either internality for success (I) or externality for success (E). Following the arousal procedure measures of the slope of attractiveness of success (an index of the strength of achievement motivation) and conformity were assessed. The results indicate that Ss in the I condition showed a steeper slope of attractiveness and less conforming behavior than Ss in the E condition. The results supported an attributional analysis of achievement motivation which suggests that achievement motivation is mediated by beliefs concerning the causality in success and failure.

Effects of Mother Presence and Absence on LD Children's and Their Mothers' Causal Attributions for Performance Outcomes

1989 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 199-207 ◽  
Author(s):  
Myron H. Dembo ◽  
Wendy Vaughn
Keyword(s):  
Similar Pattern ◽  
Differential Effect ◽  
Task Difficulty ◽  
Causal Attributions ◽  
Performance Outcomes ◽  
Maternal Involvement ◽  
Future Performance ◽  
Significant Performance ◽  
Presence And Absence ◽  
Failure Conditions

The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether mother presence and absence have a differential effect on children's and mothers' attributional responses for performance outcomes. It was hypothesized that children whose mothers were present to observe them perform a task would rate their effort and ability higher under success and lower under failure conditions. It also was expected that mothers' attributional ratings would follow a similar pattern for ability and effort attributions as well as ratings of their children's future performance. Forty male children in grades 3 and 4 and their mothers participated in the investigation. The data indicated a significant performance-(success and failure)-by-maternal-involvement (presence and absence) interaction for children's attributional ratings of effort, task difficulty, and luck and for mothers' attributional ratings of their children's effort, task difficulty, and future performance.

Causal Attributions and Affective Reactions to Discontinuing Outcomes in Motor Performance

1989 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 187-200 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward McAuley ◽  
Terry E. Duncan
Keyword(s):  
Causal Attributions ◽  
Motor Task ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Affective Reactions ◽  
Negative Affects ◽  
Achievement Outcomes ◽  
Actual Outcome ◽  
Attribution Process ◽  
The Relationship

Research suggests that attributional search is a consequence of disconfirming outcomes and that causal dimensions influence affective reactions to achievement outcomes. The present study manipulated future expectancies for performance and actual outcome in a competitive motor task. Following competitive outcome, causal attributions for and affective reactions to the outcome were assessed. Discriminant analysis indicated that winners experienced significantly more positive affect than did losers, who reported more intense negative affects. Regression analyses examined the relationship between causal dimensions and affective reactions. The locus of causality and stability dimensions significantly influenced a number of negative affects in losers, whereas all three dimensions in combination significantly influenced confidence in winners. The findings are discussed in relation to previous attribution-affect research in achievement settings and the role of disconfirm-ing experiences in the attribution process.

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