Premium
Attributions for objective outcome and subjective appraisal of performance: Their relationship with emotional reactions in sport
Author(s) -
Biddle Stuart J. H.,
Hill Andrew B.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
british journal of social psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.855
H-Index - 98
eISSN - 2044-8309
pISSN - 0144-6665
DOI - 10.1111/j.2044-8309.1992.tb00966.x
Subject(s) - attribution , psychology , social psychology , context (archaeology) , outcome (game theory) , appraisal theory , paleontology , mathematics , mathematical economics , biology
Participants in a regional squash league ( N = 74) were studied to ascertain the nature of relationships between attributions and emotions in sport. Attributions were assessed for objective outcome (win/loss) and subjective appraisal of performance (satisfied/dissatisfied). In addition, players were assessed on performance satisfaction, outcome importance and performance importance, as well as 16 emotions. Factor analyses yielded three factors for both outcome and performance attributions (personal sport ability, unstable and opponent). A factor analysis on emotion ratings produced three factors: positive self‐esteem, relaxation and surprised incompetence. Multiple regression analyses revealed that for winners, emotions were generally related to performance satisfaction rather than attributions, while for losers emotion was best predicted by unstable attributions and perceived importance. Players satisfied with their performance reported greater positive self‐esteem after unstable attributions, while emotion for dissatisfied players was best predicted by opponent attributions or perceived importance. Results are discussed in the context of Weiner's (1985, 1986) propositions on causal search, Vallerand's (1987) intuitive‐reflective appraisal model of sport emotion, and the structure of attributions in sport.