Sports Psychology Practice Test

The attribution made by the coach regarding Michael's shot can be classified as a negative attribution for a low-expectancy athlete because it implies that the failure (missing the shot) is related to external factors, specifically poor defense, reflecting the coach's belief about Michael's skills. This suggests that the coach sees Michael as someone who is not expected to perform at a high level, attributing the negative outcome to factors beyond Michael's control rather than to his own abilities or effort.

In the context of sports psychology, this type of attribution can significantly impact an athlete's motivation and self-esteem. By attributing failure to external factors like poor defense, the coach may be reinforcing a belief that Michael is not a key player who can be counted on during critical moments. This can affect Michael’s confidence in his shooting ability and overall performance.

By contrast, other types of attributions, such as positive attributions, would involve acknowledging good performance regardless of the external circumstances. Redirected attribution would involve changing the focus of the explanation to avoid blame, and negative attribution for high-expectancy athletes would imply that the expectations placed on a highly regarded athlete are not being met due to their own shortcomings, rather than external factors. The distinction is that in this scenario, Michael