Achievement Motivation Essay Example for Free

Achievement Motivation Essay What is it? This links personality with the degree of competitiveness shown by an individual. Its main focus is the extent to which an individual is motivated to attain success. Some Theories about it   Murray (1938) indicated that it was natural for individual to strive to surpass another (genetically) like trait. Bandura (1977) believed that a competitive drive was a product of learning (social learning). Atkinson and McCelland (1976) has the view of an interactionist and predicts achievement motivation is generated through a combination of personality and situation factors. Atkinson and McCelland view of achievement motivation as a personality trait which is activated by a situation, the situation comprises the probability of success and the incentive value of success. -Probability of success;the extent to which success is likely;For example success is more likely of the task is found by the individual to be easy. -Incentive value of success;the incentive value experienced by the individual after success-been achieved. For example the harder the task the greater will be the incentive value because the probability of success is reduced. There are two personality types to determine achievement motivation and these are; 1.High need to achieve (high Nach) Linked with the low need to avoid failure (Low Naf). With these characteristic, desire to succeed overcomes the fear of failure. These performers=high in achievement motivation (high achievers) 2.Low need to achieve (Low Nach) Also linked with high need to avoid failure (High Naf). These characteristics the fear of failure overcome the desire to success. These performers=low in achievement motivation (low achievers) Characteristics of high and low achievement motivation personality traits. High Nach Personality Characteristics Low Nach personality characteristics High need to achieve Low need to achieve Low need to avoid failure High need to avoid failure Approach behaviour is adopted Avoidance behaviour is adopted Challenges is accepted Challenges is rejected Risks are undertaken Risks are declined Shows persistence and perseverance when task is difficult Curtails effort when task is difficult Success tends to be attributed to external factors Failure tends to be attributed to internal factors Failure is seen as a route to success Failure is seen as the route to further failure Aspire to mastery orientation Adopt learned helpessness Key Terms Approach behaviour-describes behaviour that accepts a challenge Avoidance behaviour-describes behaviour that rejects a challenge Attribution-The process that predict reasons for success or failure Mastery Orientation-The strong motive to succeed found in the high achievement. This type of person will expect to succeed but will persist when failure is experienced Learned helplessness-The belief that failure is inevitable and that the individual has no control over the factors that cause failure. Atkinson and McCelland Their theory of achievement motivation is best at predicting behavioural responses in situations where there is a 50/50 chance of success. This will trigger motivation for those performers with high achievement traits=likely  to display approach behaviour and mastery orientation characteristics in these circumstances. Incentive value=high when chance is evenly balanced. In contrast to performers who show low achievement motivation would experience greatest anxiety in situations with a 50/50 chance of success— later adopt avoidance behaviour and experience learned helplessness. Approach or avoidance behaviours likely to arise when in a evaluative situation=Situation in which an individual believes they are being assessed. Drawbacks 1.Achievement or success can interpreted in many ways. Some performers regard success as victory over others. For example a long jump athlete winning an event. These people are said to have ego goal orientation. Those with this believe that ability and comparison over others=criteria for success. 2.Others judge on the basis of person improvement in a given task-For example a second long jump athlete may view success as the achievement of an improved performance. These people are said to have task orientation. Those with the task orientation value internal goals and believe that effort and comparison with self=criteria for success. Sport Specific Achievement Motivation(Competitiveness) Competitiveness in this context means- motivation to achieve in sport. Gill and Deeter (1988), using their own test called the ‘Sport Orientation Questionnaire’ (SOQ), confirmed that athletes were far more competitive than non-athletes. As as statement, this would appear obvious. Evidence of greater significance-athletes favoured performance goals (task orientation) while non-athletes emphasised the importance of winning (ego orientation) The type of goal set by the teacher as the measure of success in sport-related activities has, therefore, a significant influence upon the decision to adopt and sustain an active and healthy lifestyle. The important association between sport-specific motivation (competitiveness), confidence and goal setting.

A Citizen of New York City :: Journalism Media Studies Influenza Health Essays

A Citizen of New York City I am proud to be a citizen of New York City. I am especially proud in this time of war, when so many of our brothers, sons, nephews, and friends are off fighting for this fine country of ours. It is saddening to see the countless obituaries of not only those killed in the war, but also of those whose lives have been taken [by] this epidemic that seems to have an insatiable hunger for human lives. I, along with numerous of my fellow citizens, have become more and more distraught to see the amount of death and destruction that has entered this fine city along with the war and this epidemic of influenza, both of which have created a dark cloud that casts a constant shadow over us all. It is frightening to see those you know and love become sick and die so very quickly, sometimes without any warning at all. Those of us that are still alive, wake up every morning and face each new day wondering whether or not we are going to live through the day. After all, there have been nearly 40 0,000 that have died in the last three months, and who knows how many of those people woke up thinking they were going to live long lives. In a time such is this, one would hope to be able to turn to those that are most trusted in the field of medicine: our family doctors, health commissioners, even the surgeon general. I find that quite the contrary is taking place. Just the other day I read an article whose title perfectly describes my concern: "Health Officers Split on Influenza Scourge: American Public Health Association Unable to Agree on Prevention or Cure." The American Public Health Association, above all, should be the first to come to calm [the] public with some kind of prevention, if not a cure. But it is obvious that this is not the case. In fact, they are not even able to come up with a plan to combat this influenza bug. If they do not even have a plan, how were they able to claim different epidemics required separate treatments? Why should the citizens of this city believe this statement, coming from people who have not been able to come up with even one treatment, never mind the separate treatments they claim are required?

Little Miss Sunshine Essay

The directors of the film â€Å"Little Miss Sunshine† satirize aspects of American society by completely humiliating and twisting the basis of many issues within American civilization. Numerous aspects are parodied throughout the film, however the angle in which the theme of personal failure and beauty contests is mimicked is particularly intriguing. Personal failure is highly satirized in multitudinous ways during the film, and the subject has been accentuated to the extreme. Richard’s nine steps to success completely blocks out failure, and when his program is not sold amid the movie, the scene was developed to express so much irony. Throughout the entire movie, personal failures and achievements are both considered and accentuated using different film techniques. Camera distance and viewpoints are used when both Richard and Dwayne experience personal failures within the movie. When Richard hears the news from Stan Grossman that his program deal had slumped and was not sold, the camera was very distant from Richard. Showing both him and the nature of the area, this allowed us to see and hear the event from a more external perspective. As Dwayne runs out of the car when he discovers he cannot become a pilot, the camera angle changes from a close up, to a distance shot. This allows for the audience to take in the atmosphere of the situation and shows that during the present moment, Dwayne is all by himself in his position. Close up shots are used when Dwayne falls to his knees and screams, which shows the disappointment and setback he is experiencing. The mood soundtrack changes from a happy, up-beat song, to a very slow and depressing melody when Dwayne realizes he can never fly. In both situations, the satire is extremely blunt and gets straight to the dilemma of personal failure. Another evident personal failure in the film is when Olive humiliates herself and the entire beauty pageant when she performed her routine for Little Miss Sunshine. The narrative structure within this scene is Olive giving everything she has got into her dance, being the protagonist who is motivated by their desire to achieve a goal. Throughout the movie, many obstacles stand in her way to arrive at her desired destination in Redondo Beach, California. These obstacles create conflict; however also allow some family members and Olive to overcome problems whilst traveling to the beauty contest. Despite the ups and downs of the family’s voyage to Redondo Beach, the protagonist being Olive, is able to achieve her goal of being in the Little Miss Sunshine beauty contest and the family’s questions and tensions generated by the conflict along the way are answered and resolved. Throughout the scene when Olive was performing, many different film techniques other than purely narrative structure were utilized such as: camera distance/point of view, sound effects, mood, soundtrack and cinematography use of camera angles. All of these techniques cooperate together to allow for the audience to fully absorb the way this scene is set up to satirize beauty contents and show personal failure and the other two scenes to show purely personal failure. Not only were film techniques portrayed in the film, several humorous techniques were put to use and stood out within the theme of personal failure. Caricatures were assiduously used throughout all roles in the movie, however the exaggeration of Richard’s persistence and obsession of winning and Dwayne’s vow of silence are played on intensely to show how ridiculous they are without saying it. The directors have adapted the film to make the movie more prominent for the audience to be able to reflect their own experiences to the events so that it is easy for them to relate to. Irony is a huge factor when it comes to Richard; he is so overwhelmed by himself and his nine steps to success program that he is absolutely oblivious to his ignorance, which represents situational irony. Taboos, irrelevance to the plot and running jokes are also humorous techniques applied to the theme of personal failure. The most noticeable aspect satirized in the film is the theme of beauty contents. The song that Olive dances to, ‘Can’t Touch This’ by MC Hammer, in the competition is mocking the basis and perception of young girls beauty contests. Olive’s Grandpa chose this song for her to perform her routine to because it patronises the whole structure of how tarty, promiscuous, immoral and ridiculous these obscene events are. Evidence in which shows the concept of beauty contests being satirized comes from film techniques such as the music soundtrack, cinematography, sound effects and camera distance/point of view. Humorous techniques exercised throughout this scene include satire, irony, tone, reflection on human lives and experiences, ridiculous situations and irrelevance to the plot. Little Miss Sunshine† utilizes film and humorous techniques to satirize aspects of American society. The directors have carefully and thoroughly utilized various film techniques to make it evident to the audience the way they attempt to satirize themes throughout the movie. Overall, the most evident theme satirized within the movie was personal failure, due to the frequent amount of scenes related to the subject during the movie. â€Å"Richard, whatever happens, you tried to do something on your own, which is more than most people ever do. I include myself in that category. You took a big chance, it took guts, and I’m proud of you† (Grandpa).

A Critique on Romantic Ideals in Mary Shelleys Frankenstein

Dr. Bianca Tredennick English 102-10 February 14, 2007 â€Å"But Sorrow Only Increased with Knowledge:† A Critique on Romantic Ideals in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein Romantics, individuals living during 1789-1830, expressed their ideas and imaginations in attempt to escape the conformity and imitation of the past Neo-Classical era. These individuals focused on surpassing the boundaries of human nature as well as their personal experiences spiritually, psychologically, physically and emotionally. These choices made by humans started to push the limits of physical nature using the acquirement of knowledge to its fullest extent. We discover multiple characters in this novel Frankenstein published in 1818 that replicate ideal Romantic figures. It†¦show more content†¦The more education and eloquence the creature acquires the more he discovers about his own creation. The lab notes he found made him realize his disgustful disposition and the abhorrent process of his own fabrication. Though the monster tried to set aside t he reality of his history, he cannot avoid his mechanical truth of his puzzle pieced exterior stitched together leading to explanation that the creature more knowledge acquires, the more dismayed he becomes. In essence, the education that blends the creature closer to a part of society, lights up what could not be seen before. It was not until he began to attain a more sophisticated nature that he could not explain why everyone he encountered ran in terror from his wretchedness. Now that knowledge has become an integrated part of his being, the ability of understanding has led him to understand why he is not accepted not only upon his encounter with the DeLacey’s but with society as a whole through the evidence the lab notes provide. Along with the notes, the creature finds three books in the woods that also have a tremendous affect on the comprehension of his self-image through the ideas and comments they suggest leading him into a new light of understanding. One of the book s that had the most emotional effect on Victor’s creation wasShow MoreRelated Frankenstein, Community, and the Individual Essay1697 Words   |  7 Pagesresponsibility that lie at the core of Mary Shelleys Frankenstein. It is through these concepts that Shelley explores how society has changed during Romanticism and the Industrial Revolution, with lessening importance on shared knowledge and the public sphere and more emphasis on individual achievement and identity, leading to a fractured and isolated society. 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