Summary- Motivation plays a vital but often misunderstood role in sport and exercise. The role is
critical because athletic success depends significantly on people’s willingness to exert
mental as well as physical effort in pursuit of excellence. Unfortunately, the role of
motivation in sport is also potentially confusing because of certain myths that
surround this term (e.g., the idea that being “psyched up” is synonymous with being
appropriately motivated for competitive action). Therefore, the purpose of this chapter
was to examine selected theories and research on motivational processes in athletes. It
began with a clarification of the nature and types of motivation. - The second part of the chapter provided a brief overview of two influential cognitive
models of motivational processes in athletes: achievement goal theory and attribution
theory. - The third section examined the theory and practice of goal-setting as a motivational
strategy in sport. This section concluded with a discussion of some key conceptual and
methodological issues affecting research in this field. - After that, we considered the motivational factors which impel some people to take part
in dangerous athletic pursuits. - Finally, six practical suggestions were presented for possible research projects on the
psychology of motivation in sport.
Motivation and goal-setting in sport 63