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      The daily motivational #2: how achievement motivation theory rocks your classroom
      Submitted by Yearinthelifeof on 21 January, 2012 - 13:38

      Are the fear of failure and the absolute need for success leading our learners to alternatives which offer pereceivably higher chances of success?

      Are the incentives to avoid failure so great that learners dare not risk trying to succeed?

      Is it better to have  not tried at all than to have tried and failed?

      Believe it or not, this is the essence of achievement motivation theory! - Atkinson & Raynor (1974)

       

      Key components: The expectancy of success / Need for Achievement / Fear of failure

       

      ·       Achievement motivation is determined by conflicting approach and avoidance tendencies.

       ·       Positive influences include the expectancy of success, the incentive values of successful completion and a need for achievement.

      ·       Negative influences the expectancy of failure, the incentive to avoid failure and the fear of failure.

       

      Do you notice any occasions when this might have affected your classes?

      Average: 5 (5 votes)

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      davidvincent's picture
      davidvincent
      YES!
      Submitted on 21 January, 2012 - 15:40

      The need to save face in many cultures is so overwhelming that you will see students not show up to class and get removed from the list rather than risk failing a course they don't think they can pass. I'd say that fear of failure in these situations is so strong that many who could do well simply quit because they can't even face failing.

      CoffeeAddict's picture
      CoffeeAddict
      YES X 2!
      Submitted on 21 January, 2012 - 16:29

      I have students who do not try because they are convinced they'd fail. There's less loss of face in "I don't care" than in "I can't do it". Sadly, the national tests in Turkey (SBS to enter high school) drive the point home in that three mistakes equals the loss of an additional point/correct answer. Students are told not to take any risks. It's better not to try than risk being wrong. I do not have the words to tell you how terrible this attitude is when it comes to language learning. Talk about "learning from your mistakes"..... aaaagh!

      Yearinthelifeof's picture
      Yearinthelifeof
      Thanks
      Submitted on 21 January, 2012 - 16:53

      Thanks to David and Karin for your comments.

      It's such a shame that the focus seems to be so far away from 'what can I learn from this experience?' and is so heavily towards 'I can't be seen to fail the assessment associated with this course of study?' Bring on the revolution, I say.

      Knowing about this theory does help you to understand why this exasperating behaviour happens. I only wish I could do more when I identify such cases.