Understanding Motivation
INSIGHT TOUR DE FRANCE 5
The commonly understood interpretation of motivation is either ‘good’ (intrinsic) or ‘bad’ (extrinsic). However, the understanding of extrinsic motivation and various influences on sport involvement is limited and promotes an inaccurate appreciation. Deci and Ryan’s motivation theory is popular due to the position that people seek to satisfy three psychological needs; self-determination (autonomy), perceived competence, and relatedness (sense of belonging), necessary for personal growth. The self-determination theory also suggests numerous systems of intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation and amotivation.
Intrinsic Motivation is associated with the inherent fun and enjoyment associated with sport participation. An example of this would be; some cyclists naturally enjoy hill climbing and descending or sprint to reach the maximum speed. In dissimilarity, amotivation is a lack or reduction in motivation. In between these two opposing forms of motivation, is extrinsic; which is largely connected with the achievement of a goal, such as winning the Tour De France yellow jersey or even, just a weekly road race. Initial interest is to recognise a more thorough understanding of extrinsic motivation and its influence on cycling leisure, training and racing.
There are two broad types of extrinsic motivation and understanding the difference between the two major forms is important.
1. Non-self-determined extrinsic motivation is concerned with force and responsibility. Cyclists undertake some training (for example, sprinting, weights, hill climbs), which for many cyclists is not normally fun, and are required to carry out the training objectives by their coaches.
Alternatively, cyclist may develop guilt if they do not complete the tasks required of them, which is brought upon them from their coach. The broad type of motivation lacks the perception of choice.
2. Self-determined extrinsic forms of motivation are apprehensive with a conscious valuing or acceptance of the training. The cyclist over time may come to the realisation that other specified training may help them achieve their ultimate goal of their selection. They may even endorse the training as being consistent with their personal beliefs about health and fitness. Over time, the source of motivation to undertake less enjoyable aspects of riding and training may displace from no-self-determination extrinsic motivation to self-determination extrinsic, which is an important form of adaptive motivation. Self-determination extrinsic motivation is similar to intrinsic motivation in that there is the perception of choice in the training and racing that one might desire.
Self-determination theory brings forward factors which promote perception of autonomy, competence ad relatedness that positively impact on adaptive forms of motivation, which is vital in the context of elite cycling. Since self-determination theory research has shown that self-determined forms of motivation characterised elite cyclists in a number of different disciplines and strategies of riding and racing. Self- determined motivation (extrinsic and intrinsic) produces positive outcome and is it important that this is developed by coaches and other reasonable influences (friends, elite riders, professionals, parents).
If research shows that, professional riders are driven by elf-determined reasons, actively seek autonomy, even in controlling environments and develop positive strategies to help cope in an autonomy supportive climate. Then it is argued that coaches should consider the adoption of autonomy supportive coaching environment to enhance the quality of riding and racing performance.