Personality Types and Motivation
Introvert and extrovert performers and the sports that suit them, and the difference between motivation that comes from inside and rewards that come from outside, including why inner drive usually lasts longer.
Justify the choices, the way you are assessed
Free interactive practice on the decisions the assessment actually asks you to justify.
Start revising freeWhat you'll cover
What drives a performer
Two performers can have the same skill but very different minds. One is calm and likes to work alone; the other is loud and loves a crowd. And what keeps them going differs too: some play for the love of it, others for the medals. This module works through introvert and extrovert personalities and the difference between motivation from inside and rewards from outside.
Mind words to know
Learn these before you match the performer to the sport.
Introvert against extrovert
Personality shapes which sports and settings suit a performer.
Match the person, judge the drive
In the exam, match the personality to the demands of the sport, then judge the motivation. A quieter performer tends to do well where focus and control matter and few people are watching; a more outgoing one thrives where the pace is high and there is a crowd. For the drive, remember it from inside usually lasts longer, while rewards from outside can help at first but can weaken that inner drive if they are overused.
Match the term
- introvert
- extrovert
- intrinsic motivation
- extrinsic motivation
- a quiet, reserved performer
- an outgoing, sociable performer
- drive that comes from inside
- drive that comes from outside rewards
Match the example
- a calm, reserved athlete
- a loud, sociable athlete
- playing for the pride of doing your best
- playing to win a medal or trophy
- suits an individual, fine-skill sport
- suits a fast team sport
- this is motivation from inside
- this is a reward from outside
Which drive lasts longest?
Which kind of motivation usually lasts the longest?
- Intrinsic motivation
- Extrinsic motivation
- No motivation at all
- Only large prizes
True about mind and drive
Select the TWO true statements about personality and motivation.
- An introvert often suits an individual sport with fine skills
- Extrinsic motivation comes from outside rewards
- Intrinsic motivation comes from winning a trophy
- An extrovert prefers quiet, low-key settings
Find the mean enjoyment
A player rates enjoyment of training out of 5 across four weeks as 4, 5, 3 and 4. Add the four ratings and divide by 4 to find the mean rating. What is the answer?
Order the reward trap
Put the stages of rewards weakening inner drive in order, earliest first.
- A player enjoys the sport for its own sake
- A coach starts giving prizes for winning
- The player focuses on the prizes, not the fun
- When the prizes stop, the player loses interest
Complete the rules
A quiet, reserved performer is an _____, who often suits individual sports. An outgoing, sociable performer is an _____, who often suits team sports. Drive that comes from inside is _____ motivation. Drive that comes from outside rewards is _____ motivation.
Spot the extrovert features
Tap the TWO features of an extrovert performer.
- outgoing and sociable
- suited to fast team sports
- quiet and reserved
- prefers calm, low-key settings
Read the athlete
Read each case and choose the best answer.
- A calm, reserved athlete who loves to concentrate alone would suit which kind of sport?
- A player trains hard purely because they love the game and want to improve. What kind of motivation is this?
- A coach worries that paying players large bonuses may weaken their love of the game. What problem is this?
Explain personality and motivation
Explain the difference between introvert and extrovert performers and between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation.
- Describe an introvert and an extrovert and a sport each one suits
- Explain intrinsic and extrinsic motivation with an example of each
- Explain why intrinsic motivation is usually seen as more effective