Athletes Motivational Climate

Does Institutional Faith Affect the Motivational Climate of an Intercollegiate Student-Athlete?
Bethany M. Brun
Mercyhurst University
OL 530 Organizational Communication
Abstract
The intercollegiate student-athlete is influenced by many different factors throughout his or her college career. One of those factors is his or her motivational climate. While an athlete can be intrinsically or extrinsically motivated, understanding which climate will be most effective is crucial for both athletes (e.g. to choose the best institution at which to compete) and coaches (e.g. to generate a climate that encourages athletes to perform to their potential). Research suggests that faith plays a role in the life of the intercollegiate athlete,

First, both intrinsic and extrinsic motivational factors are pivotal to achieving optimal performance (i.e. athletic performance) as being self-motivated and self-driven is highly associated with high intrinsic motivation and high achievement. Second, there are psychological outcomes, such as feelings of guilt, pleasure, success, or failure, as well as stress, which can result from one’s motivational orientation. Third, it can be argued that one’s perceived locus of causality is influenced by both internal factors (i.e., personality) and external factors (i.e., social, contextual), which affects one’s performance motivation. Understanding the complex elements of an athlete’s motivation allows for an institution to 1) accommodate the greatest number of athletes’ motivational styles, 2) educate coaches on how to provide the most effective motivational climate, and 3) properly inform athletes so they are able to choose the best fit for him or her. This begs the question, however: When an athlete finally decides upon an institution, will a RPI affect the athlete’s motivation orientation to

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