Perfectionistic Profiles and Motivation of Elite Athletes - Research Paper Example

Topic: Article Critique Article critique: Gucciardi, D. F., Mahoney, J., Jalleh, G., Donovan, R. J., & Parkes, J. (2012). Perfectionistic profiles among elite athletes and differences in their motivational orientations. Journal of sport & exercise psychology, 34(2), 159-183. “Perfectionistic Profiles Among Elite Athletes and Differences in their Motivational Orientations” is an article on research that was carried out by Daniel Gucciardi, John Mahoney and Geoffrey Jalleh among other people. The main aim of the research was to understand perfectionist profiles in a sample that was constituted by elite athletes and the dissimilarities that may exist between them concerning fundamental variables in terms of motivation. Even though there is emerging research that has assessed perfectionist clusters as far as the general population is concerned, very few studies apart from this have dwelled on such profiles in terms of athlete samples. Regardless of theoretical constructions developed by this research, there is a general agreement that perfectionism is a construct of multidimensional nature entailing intra and inter-personal attributes that are associated with tendencies to seek very high standards regarding performance. According to this research, prior investigations concerning perfectionism in sports that were centered on the individual have considered the differences existing between perfectionist clusters regarding the degree of anxiety prior to a competition and directions, anger, feelings concerning modes of parenting as well as burn out. These aspects developed the secondary goal of the research, which involved determining whether the profiles of perfectionists were different when other meaningful variables were considered. While trying to get more literature on this aspect, the study considered maladaptive and adaptive characteristics, which could possibly be a source of clues concerning the functional characteristics associated with the profiles of perfectionists. In particular, the research dwelled on independent and connected motivational variables such as achievement objectives as well as intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, and fears of failing. It is clear from this article that perfectionism is a prevalent attribute in the case of athletes; however, it has been argued by some researchers that perfectionism in sporting disciplines is maladaptive since it undermines the performance of the athletes while at the same time hindering their development and growth. This point of view does not consider the aspect of perfectionism as a multidimensional attribute and only limited aspects of perfectionism are predominantly maladaptive while others are not. The research article develops the argument that perfectionism entails some fundamental dimensions that demonstrate varying and exceptional patterns of associations with the emotions, motivation and performances of the athletes. The literature review of the research article presents findings that indicate that only concerns of a perfectionist nature demonstrate exceptional positive connections with competitive anxiety, fears of failing and situations where the athletes avoid goal orientations. Conversely, the strivings of perfectionists demonstrate exceptional positive connections with self-assurance, hope towards being successful, and approach to the orientation of goals as well as performances during training and in competitions. Since the study focused mainly on elite athletes, there was a chance to assess empirically the argument that elite athlete who are adults are solely characterized by perfectionistic profiles of an adaptive nature. The study expected to develop a three-way categorical conceptualization in regard to perfectionism developed from non-perfectionists and perfectionists of an adaptive and maladaptive nature. The research was conducted on a sample of four hundred and twenty-three elite athletes between age fourteen and sixty-six from different sporting fields. The research article notes that institutional ethical approval was sought and obtained prior to the study beginning and information sheets that contained a description of the aims and goals together with a proposal was sent to the appropriate personnel. The data needed in the research was collected using questionnaires, which were couriered to the respondents with instructions enclosed within the packages that contained the questionnaires. Consequently, the collected data was analyzed using SPSS 18.0 where the data was screened and internal reliability approximates assessed for every construct before the main analysis was conducted. Other modes of analysis were also employed using cluster groups as the independent variable and other motivational variables as the dependent variable was being performed. The findings of the research demonstrated some support for a three-way categorical conceptualization as far as perfectionism was concerned that encompassed groups of non-perfectionists as well as adaptive and maladaptive perfectionists which supported the expectations of the study (Gucciardi, Mahoney, Jalleh, Donovan & Parkes, 2012). Regarding perfectionist profiles in the elite athletes, the findings of this research provide additional support for three-way categorical conceptualization of perfectionism that encompasses various groups of perfectionists including adaptive and maladaptive ones. Regarding dissimilarities in motivational orientations, the study sought to increase understanding concerning the functional characteristics of perfectionism through an examination of the dissimilarities between athletes with different perfectionistic profiles associated with maladaptive and adaptive approaches to motivation. The study findings in this case were consistent with the theoretical framework that had been constructed with various levels of perfectionistic achievement goals being associated with different perfectionist aspects. This research was strengthened through a person-centered methodology that was able to rise above any limitations associated with previous researches that had not dwelled on the perfectionistic profiles of athletes that were unique. The approach that was used was beneficial as it allowed greater conclusions to be drawn concerning the forms of perfectionism while better guiding the practical ramifications since the individual remains the main concern instead of the variables, as is the case in methodologies that focus on variables. Regardless of the strengths associated with this study, there were associated limitations including the use of one aspect to measure the perfectionism as there are possibilities of this underestimating the perfectionism since it does not entails all the dimensions it is supposed to be associated with. This study made significant contribution towards the conceptualization of perfectionism in sports in various ways including revealing support for perfectionism to be categorically conceptualized in a manner that has some level of consistency with the typical conceptual constriction. The findings of the research demonstrate that achievement goals and motives that are aversive and fears of failing but not extrinsic and inherent motivation, are fundamental constructs that are needed in order to understand the functional dissimilarities present between various forms of perfectionist clusters when data at the individual level is considered. References Gucciardi, D. F., Mahoney, J., Jalleh, G., Donovan, R. J., & Parkes, J. (2012). Perfectionistic profiles among elite athletes and differences in their motivational orientations. Journal of sport & exercise psychology, 34(2), 159-183. Read More