Goal orientation, self-theories and reactions to success and failures in competitive sport

Abstract

This study focuses on how sport participants in general react to success and failure in competitive sport. Eighty (80) respondents who compete in sport on international, national, provincial and school level were used for this study. Data were collected by employing the Task and Ego Orientation in Sport Questionnaire (TEOSQ), the Self-Theory Questionnaire that measured if the participants have a fixed- or growth mindset, as well as a questionnaire that was specifically developed to determine the participant’s reaction to success and failure. Descriptive statistics as well as inferential statistics were used to determine significant correlations between the psychological constructs and significant differences between the different levels of participation. The results indicated that the participant’s reaction to success and failure is much more positive than negative. In terms of how ego- and task orientation relate to the participant’s reaction to success and failure, it was found that task orientation and the growth mindset relate strongly to a more positive reaction to success and failure. The role of the different levels of participation on the reaction to success and failure showed surprisingly that respondents, who participate at school and provincial levels showed a more positive reaction to failure than those who compete on a national and international levels.

Key words: Goal orientation, self-theories, success, failure, reactions.