Using attribution and attitudinal theories, evaluate critically the reasons why this young person does not participate in sport.
The following is a typical statement made by a young person who has given up sport and leads an unhealthy lifestyle:
‘I think sport is boring. I am no good at it, I don’t enjoy it and I can think of better things to do on a Saturday afternoon’
Using attributional theories, evaluate critically the reasons why this young person does not participate in sport. How might you persuade this young person to once again take up sport?
It is evident from this statement that the young person concerned has developed a poor attitude towards a balanced, active, and healthy lifestyle. They may have developed this through poor previous experiences, such as failure, which have been reinforced by others. For example missing a penalty and being reprimanded. They may have also developed this through role models and significant others which if reinforced is similar to the social learning theory. For example, copying an older sibling who plays computer games and getting closer to that sibling.
Using Weiner’s model of attribution and the triadic model of attitude, this statement can be addressed.. Firstly, it is evident that the young person thinks ‘sport is boring’. This is the cognitive element of the model which relates to an individual’s beliefs and knowledge. One way to change this component would be to use the persuasive communication technique. This requires a relevant message to be given to the person by a high status role model or significant other. For example, educating the individual about the long term health benefits of participation in sport, such as weight loss. It is important that this message is relevant to young people though as they may not be able to relate their position to such information. Giving the individual a vicarious experience by watching others who have the ideal body shape and of are similar age/gender may help to motivate them.
The statement ‘I am no good at it’ shows that the person is attributing their failure to internal stable factors on
‘I think sport is boring. I am no good at it, I don’t enjoy it and I can think of better things to do on a Saturday afternoon’
Using attributional theories, evaluate critically the reasons why this young person does not participate in sport. How might you persuade this young person to once again take up sport?
It is evident from this statement that the young person concerned has developed a poor attitude towards a balanced, active, and healthy lifestyle. They may have developed this through poor previous experiences, such as failure, which have been reinforced by others. For example missing a penalty and being reprimanded. They may have also developed this through role models and significant others which if reinforced is similar to the social learning theory. For example, copying an older sibling who plays computer games and getting closer to that sibling.
Using Weiner’s model of attribution and the triadic model of attitude, this statement can be addressed.. Firstly, it is evident that the young person thinks ‘sport is boring’. This is the cognitive element of the model which relates to an individual’s beliefs and knowledge. One way to change this component would be to use the persuasive communication technique. This requires a relevant message to be given to the person by a high status role model or significant other. For example, educating the individual about the long term health benefits of participation in sport, such as weight loss. It is important that this message is relevant to young people though as they may not be able to relate their position to such information. Giving the individual a vicarious experience by watching others who have the ideal body shape and of are similar age/gender may help to motivate them.
The statement ‘I am no good at it’ shows that the person is attributing their failure to internal stable factors on