Is Motivation more important than Ability in a successful competitive performance?

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Is Motivation more important than Ability in a successful competitive performance?

Motivation is:

                  'The internal mechanisms and external stimuli which arouse and direct behaviour.'

                                                                                                                   (Pg 92)

Abilities are the qualities that you have which make it possible for you to do something.Both motivation and ability are important in producing a successful competitive performance in sport but sepperatly it can be a very different outcome. Initially we are going to look at the part motivation plays in our performance and to follow ability, analysing how important each factor is.

Motivation plays a vital role in a performer producing consistant and successful performances because it can influence our learning, deciencions and our actual performance in sport. If you are not in a positive psychological state when playing your sport mistakes will be made. It is important to be motivated in your sport because people who are highly motivated are more likely to learn and practise skills than those who are not.This is represented in Hull's 'Drive theory'.

Hull is suggesting that the relationship between motivation and performance is linear: performance increases in proportion to motivation. A very high motivation level results in a high performance level.

Motivation is one of the most important aspects of a competitive performance. Motivation is being inspired to do something; this can be intrinsic or extrinsic. Extrinsic motivation comes from the outside environment; this can be money, medals, prizes or fame. You are motivated to do it because you get a material reward. Intrinsic motivation comes from within the performer. The performer gets personal enjoyment from the sport, even if they have no ability, if they enjoy it and have fun then they will be motivated to carry on with the sport, it doesn't matter if they have natural ability or not. Motivation whether it is intrinsic or extrinsic has different effects on an athlete including whether or not they continue with their sport.Both are very important in motivation but Biddell suggested that:

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                'performers that are instrinsically  motivated are more likely to continue  participating than those who are not and extrinsic motivation is of benefit at first and can drive individuals to participate and work hard initially, but in the long run it is not enough on its own'

  (pg56)

Biddel is saying that in the long run instrinsic motivation is more important in motivating yourself than extrinsic motivation. Ask any successful performer in whatever sport they play what helps them perform successfully they will say motivation and if you ask any person who is successful, in whatever he or she ...

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