An athlete’s desire to perform to his or her potential is an example of which motivational construct?

An athlete’s desire to perform to his or her potential is an example of which motivational construct?

• A. Motive to Avoid Failure
• B. Autogenic Training
• C. Selective Attention
• D. Achievement Motivation

Answer: (D)

Achievement motivation describes the drive to reach personal standards of performance and to perform to one’s potential. This is exactly what the statement conveys—the athlete’s wish to push to their best and demonstrate competence. It’s about striving for excellence and mastery rather than simply avoiding negative outcomes or engaging in unrelated skills. The other options don’t fit: motive to avoid failure focuses on preventing negative results, autogenic training is a relaxation technique, and selective attention is about focusing on relevant cues, not the drive to perform at a high level.

Achievement motivation describes the drive to reach personal standards of performance and to perform to one’s potential. This is exactly what the statement conveys—the athlete’s wish to push to their best and demonstrate competence. It’s about striving for excellence and mastery rather than simply avoiding negative outcomes or engaging in unrelated skills. The other options don’t fit: motive to avoid failure focuses on preventing negative results, autogenic training is a relaxation technique, and selective attention is about focusing on relevant cues, not the drive to perform at a high level.