IB Sports, exercise and health science C.1.2 Mental Toughness Questionbank

(a) Using the figure, state the attribution that is both internal and stable.

(b) An athlete says, ‘I lost because I was unlucky.’ Using the figure, classify this attribution.

(c) Outline what is meant by the ‘locus of stability’ dimension of an attribution.

(d) A mentally tough athlete attributes a defeat to a lack of effort (internal and unstable). Explain how this attribution helps to maintain their confidence for future performances.

(e) Explain how repeatedly attributing failure to low ability (internal and stable) could reduce an athlete's confidence.

(f) Suggest how attribution retraining could improve a struggling athlete's confidence.

Athletes were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: a task they could succeed at, a failure they could control, or a failure they could not control. They were then all given the same solvable task. The figure shows the mean persistence on this task for each group. The uncontrollable-failure group shows signs of learned helplessness.

Figure: Persistence after different prior experiences

(a) Using the figure, state the mean persistence of the uncontrollable-failure group.

(b) Using the figure, compare the persistence of the controllable-failure and uncontrollable-failure groups.

(c) Explain why the uncontrollable-failure group showed the lowest persistence.

(d) The athletes were randomly assigned to the groups. Explain why this strengthens the conclusion that uncontrollable failure caused the lower persistence.

Which health outcome is most closely linked to higher mental toughness?

Which statement best links attribution theory and confidence in sport?

External, unstable attribution

Internal, stable attribution

Internal, controllable attribution

External, uncontrollable attribution

(e) Suggest one strategy a coach could use to help an athlete showing learned helplessness regain persistence.

More burnout symptoms

Fewer depressive symptoms

Greater risk of injury

Reduced motivation

Success attributed to luck lowers confidence

Failure attributed to controllable factors can improve confidence

Internal attributions always lower motivation

Confidence is unaffected by attributions