Elaborating the Mastery State and the Confidence Frame

Abstract

The role of the mastery metamotivational state and the antecedents of the confidence frame have, until now, been poorly defined in reversal theory (RT) research. The purpose of this theoretical manuscript is to provide an elaboration of RT's mastery state and more clearly define its relationship with protective confidence frames, its interaction with other metamotivational states, and its antecedents. By exploiting the full theoretical range of the mastery state to consider the autocentric (striving against others) and intra-autic (striving with self), alloic (enabling others) and pro-autic (striving with others) states, we develop a series of propositions describing the relationship between mastery state combinations and sports performance. This more detailed elaboration of the confidence frame argues that it is primarily a function of the mastery state, which operates with either the telic or paratelic states to create a focused state of mind (compare to flow), that is conducive to sports performance. It has also been suggested that an individual's level of risk tolerance is mediated by the interaction between mastery and telic/paratelic dominance. This offers a different perspective not only on participation in competitive sport, but also on how different individuals might appraise any form of risk.Keywords: mastery motivational state, protective confidence frame, self-confidence , sport performance, reversal theorIn reversal theory (RT; Apter, 1992Apter, , 2001), the mastery metamotivational state is the motivational orientation that leads the individual to value having power and control, either over others or oneself. When it is operative, winning or success (i.e., gaining in felt transactional outcome) generates pleasant feelings such as pride and satisfaction. Losing or failure (i.e., losing in felt transactional outcome) generates negative emotions such as humiliation, and, when an athlete's needs for power and control are not being met, this can result in tension-stress. This theoretical manuscript provides an elaboration of RT's mastery state and more clearly defines its relationship with protective confidence frames, its interaction with other metamotivational states, and its antecedents. The manuscript is set in the context of sport and exercise psychology, but the arguments presented have implications for other areas of psychology, and for human endeavour and performance in general. It is intended as a discussion docJonathan R. Males, Performance1, London, UK; John H. Kerr, University of British Columbia; Joanne Hudson, School of Sport, Leeds Beckett University.Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Dr. Jonathan Males, Performance1, 124 Victoria Road London, UK, N22 7XQ, E-mail: malesjr@gmail.com ument aimed at stimulating debate and thinking about the nature and role of the mastery state in RT. Utilising the Full Range of Mastery StatesWilson's (1999) contention that sustained and successful participation in competition requires the mastery state to be operative has received ...

Mapping Risk Judgment and Risk Taking in Mountain Hiking: An Information Integration Approach

“…Although our results highlighted differences in ways of thinking about risk, one finding was consistent in all risk positions: the three confidence antecedents (i.e. selfexperience, team, and environment (Males et al, 2015)) were negatively associated with risk judgment and positively associated with risk taking. Individuals considered mountain hiking to be riskier if they did not have appropriate equipment, if they were accompanied by inexperienced, non-competent people, and if they had no practical personal experience or knowledge.…”

“…Within a confidence frame, risk taking can be experienced as exciting, and without it, people may feel particularly anxious and scared. Thus, Males et al (2015) proposed three antecedent factors of the confidence frame in the sports domain: self, team, and environment. Self may refer to previous experience and accomplishments in the activity considered.…”

“…Our objective in this study was to map participants’ positions on mountain hiking according to two risk dimensions (risk judgment and risk taking), by identifying how people cognitively integrated these three information factors that have often been described in the literature on risk in mountain sports that correspond to antecedents of personal confidence in this context (Males et al, 2015). During mountain activities, individuals may be aware of immediate danger, and they may develop a confidence frame or “psychological bubble” from within which they cope with risk or enjoy the sports situation (e.g., Houge Mackenzie & Kerr, 2014).…”

Mapping Risk Judgment and Risk Taking in Mountain Hiking: An Information Integration Approach

“…Without a protective frame, people feel anxious and scared. Thus, Males, Kerr and Hudson (2015) proposed three antecedents of the confidence frame in the sports domain: self, team, and environment. Self may refer to previous experience and accomplishments in the activity considered.…”

“…Our study has some limitations. Firstly, it was based on only three kinds of confidence frame antecedents (environment, team, or self); other factors should be investigated in the future (Males et al, 2015). Secondly, our three independent variables had only two modalities.…”