IB Sports, exercise and health science C.3.1 Achievement Motivation Key Definitions

A negative emotional state marked by feelings of nervousness, worry, and apprehension about future events, often without a clear external cause.

Ego orientation refers to a mindset where an individual defines success primarily by comparing themselves to others, focusing on performing better than peers and demonstrating their superiority rather than on personal improvement or mastery of a task; essentially, basing their sense of achievement on external validation and social comparison

Goal orientation theory (Nicholls, 1989), also referred to as achievement goal theory, suggests that in achievement-based settings such as sports and exercise, individuals are primarily motivated to demonstrate high ability while avoiding the appearance of low ability.

Injury risk is the probability of sustaining an injury based on the interaction of internal and external risk factors.

Intrinsic motivation refers to the internal drive to participate in an activity for its own sake, meaning a person is motivated by the inherent satisfaction or enjoyment they get from the activity itself, rather than external rewards or pressures like trophies or praise.

Motivation is defined as the direction (choice of activity) and intensity (level of effort) an individual applies

Need Achievement Theory (NAT) explains how personality and situational factors interact to influence motivation, emotions, and behavior in sports performance.

Task orientation is a focus on completing tasks to achieve goals, rather than social harmony or interpersonal factors. It's often used in the workplace and in education.