ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses some major motivation theories. It identifies common themes among the various major theories. The chapter describes the way professionals can use the major theories to help people. Atkinson's theory was one of the early models sport psychologists used to understand athletes' achievement motivation. One basic premise underlying the model is that people have desires to achieve success and avoid failure. Achievement goal theory makes a number of predictions regarding the types of behaviours that are associated with the two orientations. Self-determination theory differentiates goal content from the regulatory processes by which goals are pursued and the degree to which these goals satisfy some underlying needs shared by all people. People have consistent patterns in the types of attributions they invoke when explaining events in their lives. A useful place for Coach Buttermaker to start could be to listen to the players and identify the reasons why they decided to join the team.
