scholarly journals Moderating Effects of Individual Differences in Causality Orientation on Relationships between Reward, Choice, and Intrinsic Motivation

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 69-95
Author(s):  
Juming Jiang ◽  
Misaki Kusamoto ◽  
Ayumi Tanaka

This study examines the effects of external environmental factors, specifically monetary reward and choice, on intrinsic motivation, and tests whether they are moderated by individual differences in causality orientation. We randomly assigned 103 undergraduates to one of four conditions: reward (reward vs. no reward) × choice (choice vs. no choice). Participants were given puzzles to solve in the experimenters' presence, which they were free to continue tackling when the experimenters left the room. We measured the time spent solving puzzles when free to choose other activities, task enjoyment, and perceived competence as dependent variables. Interest in puzzles was unaffected by receiving a reward in participants with high autonomy orientation but dropped significantly in participants with low autonomy orientation. Choice over the task increased competence in participants with high autonomy orientation but lowered competence in low autonomy orientation. Finally, we found no significant effects on time spent on puzzles. The present study contributes to current literature regarding the causes of differences in performance in various achievement settings.

2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 140-150 ◽  
Author(s):  
Priscila Lopes Cardozo ◽  
Suzete Chiviacowsky

Several studies have demonstrated the detrimental effects of stereotype threat on the performance of academic and motor skills, while little attention has been given to the effects of stereotypical conditions on motor learning. The objective of the current study was to investigate the effects of overweight stereotype threat on women learning a balance task. Participants practiced 10 trials of a dynamic balance task and their learning was observed in a retention test one day later. Before practice, the stereotype threat (ST) group received instructions introducing the task as influenced by individual differences, whereby overweight people usually present worse outcomes. For the reduced stereotype threat group (RST), instructions informed them that the task was not influenced by individual differences. Participants also filled out a questionnaire measuring intrinsic motivation. The results showed that performance and learning, as well as perceived competence, were enhanced for participants of the RST group compared with participants of the ST group. The findings provide evidence that overweight stereotype threat affects the learning of motor skills.


Medicina ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 57 (3) ◽  
pp. 275
Author(s):  
Natsuko Matsumoto ◽  
Jonguk Park ◽  
Rie Tomizawa ◽  
Hitoshi Kawashima ◽  
Koji Hosomi ◽  
...  

Background and Objectives: The gut microbiota is associated with human health and dietary nutrition. Various studies have been reported in this regard, but it is difficult to clearly analyze human gut microbiota as individual differences are significant. The causes of these individual differences in intestinal microflora are genetic and/or environmental. In this study, we focused on differences between identical twins in Japan to clarify the effects of nutrients consumed on the entire gut microbiome, while excluding genetic differences. Materials and Methods: We selected healthy Japanese monozygotic twins for the study and confirmed their zygosity by matching 15 short tandem repeat loci. Their fecal samples were subjected to 16S rRNA sequencing and bioinformatics analyses to identify and compare the fluctuations in intestinal bacteria. Results: We identified 12 genera sensitive to environmental factors, and found that Lactobacillus was relatively unaffected by environmental factors. Moreover, we identified protein, fat, and some nutrient intake that can affect 12 genera, which have been identified to be more sensitive to environmental factors. Among the 12 genera, Bacteroides had a positive correlation with retinol equivalent intake (rs = 0.38), Lachnospira had a significantly negative correlation with protein, sodium, iron, vitamin D, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 intake (rs = −0.38, −0.41, −0.39, −0.63, −0.42, −0.49, respectively), Lachnospiraceae ND3007 group had a positive correlation with fat intake (rs = 0.39), and Lachnospiraceae UCG-008 group had a negative correlation with the saturated fatty acid intake (rs = −0.45). Conclusions: Our study is the first to focus on the relationship between human gut microbiota and nutrient intake using samples from Japanese twins to exclude the effects of genetic factors. These findings will broaden our understanding of the more intuitive relationship between nutrient intake and the gut microbiota and can be a useful basis for finding useful biomarkers that contribute to human health.


1995 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 294-311 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc Theeboom ◽  
Paul De Knop ◽  
Maureen R. Weiss

Recent research in educational psychology suggests that provision of a mastery motivational climate will maximize enjoyment, perceived competence, and intrinsic motivation in children (Ames, 1992a, 1992b, 1992c). Minimal research has been conducted to test this proposition in the physical domain. The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of a performance versus mastery oriented teaching program on children’s enjoyment, perceived competence, intrinsic motivation, and motor skill development. Children (N = 119) 8 to 12 years of age were randomly assigned to one of the two programs for 3 weeks during an organized sports program. Results revealed that children in the mastery oriented group reported significantly higher levels of enjoyment and exhibited better motor skills than those in the performance oriented group. In-depth interviews further indicated that children in the mastery program were almost unanimous in reporting high levels of perceived competence and intrinsic motivation, while those from the traditional group showed less pronounced effects. These results provide empirical evidence that a mastery motivational climate can result in more positive experiences for young athletes as they learn new skills.


2017 ◽  
Vol 49 (4) ◽  
pp. 230-246 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anaïs Thibault Landry ◽  
Allan Schweyer ◽  
Ashley Whillans

Given the struggle that many organizations face hiring and retaining talent in today’s tight labor market, it is critical to understand how to effectively reward employees. To address this question, we review relevant evidence that explains the importance of workplace rewards and recognition. Based on a review and synthesis of the current literature, we make the case that organizations should move beyond salary and traditional cash rewards to place greater emphasis on nonpecuniary, tangible and intangible rewards and recognition initiatives. We further highlight the importance of aligning rewards with universal psychological needs. Finally, we discuss the need to conduct more research to understand when and for whom cash and noncash rewards increase intrinsic motivation, organizational commitment and optimal functioning in order to improve the design and implementation of existing reward programs.


e-Neuroforum ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Sachser ◽  
K.-P. Lesch

AbstractIndividual differences in fear, anxiety, and the etiology of anxiety disorders develop dur­ing ontogeny. They are due to both genet­ic and environmental factors. With regard to the role of the environment, the organism is most susceptible to external influences dur­ing early development. Accordingly, stressors that impinge on the maternal organism dur­ing pregnancy evoke high levels of anxiety in the offspring later in life, as does an adverse early postnatal environment. However, anxi­ety-related circuits in the central nervous sys­tem retain their plasticity in adulthood, i.e., levels of anxiety can also be modified by ex­perience across the entire successive lifespan. Notably, the effects of external stressors on the individual’s level of anxiety are modulat­ed by genotype. Such genotype-by-environ­ment interactions are particularly well stud­ied in relation to genetic variants that modu­late the function of the serotonin transport­er. Thus, this review focuses on this candidate gene to elucidate the interplay of genotype and environment in the development of fear and anxiety.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giacomo Bignardi ◽  
Rebecca Chamberlain ◽  
Sofieke T Kevenaar ◽  
Zenab Tamimy ◽  
Dorret I Boomsma

Aesthetic chills, broadly defined as a somatic marker of peak emotional-hedonic responses, are experienced by individuals across a variety of human cultures. Yet individuals vary widely in the propensity of feeling them. These individual differences have been studied in relation to demographics, personality, and neurobiological and physiological factors, but no study to date has explored the genetic etiological sources of variation. To partition genetic and environmental sources of variation in the propensity of feeling aesthetic chills, we fitted a biometrical genetic model to data from 14127 twins (from 8995 pairs), collected by the Netherlands Twin Register. Both genetic and unique environmental factors accounted for variance in aesthetic chills, with heritability estimated at .36 ([.33, .39] 95% CI). We found females more prone than males to report feeling aesthetic chills. However, a test for genotype x sex interaction did not show evidence that heritability differs between sexes. We thus show that the propensity of feeling aesthetic chills is not shaped by nurture alone, but it also reflects underlying genetic propensities.


Retos ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 43 ◽  
pp. 623-633
Author(s):  
Juan Antonio Sánchez-Sáez ◽  
Juan Pablo Morillo-Baro ◽  
José Miguel Sánchez Malia ◽  
Daniel Lara Cobos ◽  
Jose Luis Arias-Estero

 Recientemente se ha planteado una propuesta de reglamento de mini-balonmano playa para adaptar el juego adulto a los jugadores en formación de hasta 11 años. El objetivo del estudio fue conocer las respuestas motrices y psicológicas de jugadores y entrenadores tras haber entrenado y jugado con el reglamento propuesto para mini-balonmano playa. Participaron 35 jugadores (16 niños y 19 niñas, edad: 8-11 años, M = 10.06, SD = 0.91) y cinco entrenadores (4 hombres y 1 mujer). El estudio siguió un enfoque de métodos mixtos, cuantitativo y cualitativo. El diseño fue cuasi-experimental con medidas post-test. La intervención siguió tres procesos: (a) la presentación del reglamento a los entrenadores, (b) el entrenamiento aprovechando las ventajas del nuevo reglamento, (c) la competición en un torneo de mini-balonmano playa. Cuantitativamente, las variables dependientes fueron motrices y psicológicas. Cualitativamente, se preguntó a los participantes por sus experiencias habiendo entrenado y jugado con el nuevo reglamento. Se obtuvieron valores elevados en cuanto a la igualdad en la participación, roles desempeñados, decisiones adecuadas en pase, giro y shoot-outs, competencia percibida, disfrute e intención de práctica futura. En conclusión, el reglamento propuesto para mini-balonmano playa parece que estuvo adaptado para los jugadores en formación del presente trabajo (hasta 11 años), dado que, en general, favoreció la participación de los jugadores por igual, sin especializarse en un rol, la equidad entre niños y niñas, las decisiones adecuadas y la adherencia hacia la actividad. Abstract. A proposal for a mini-beach handball regulation has recently been put forward to adapt the adult game to children up to 11 years of age. The aim of the study was to find out the motor and psychological responses of players and coaches after training and playing with the proposed mini-beach handball rules. Thirty-five players (16 boys and 19 girls, age: 8-11 years, M = 10.06, SD = 0.91) and five coaches (4 males and 1 female) participated. The study followed a mixed methods approach, quantitative and qualitative. The design was quasi-experimental with post-test measures. The intervention consisted of three procedures: (a) the presentation of the regulation to the coaches, (b) to train taking advantage of the new regulations, (c) to compete in a mini-beach handball tournament. Quantitatively, the dependent variables were motor and psychological. Qualitatively, participants were asked about their experiences training and playing with the new rules. High values were obtained in terms of equality in participation, roles played, appropriate decisions in passing, turning and shoot-outs, perceived competence, enjoyment, and intention to practice in the future. In conclusion, the proposed rules for mini-beach handball seem to be adapted for participants in the present study (up to 11 years of age), given that, in general, it favoured equal participation of players, without specialising in one role, equity between boys and girls, appropriate decisions and adherence to the activity.


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