Winning Isn't Everything: Competition, Achievement Orientation, and Intrinsic Motivation

Abstract

To test Harackiewicz and Sansone's (1991) process model of intrinsic motivation in a competitive context, we examined the effects of competition and achievement orientation on intrinsic motivation. In Study 1, participants received positive or negative feedback regarding their performance in competitive and noncompetitive conditions, and we found that achievement orientation moderated the effects of competition. Individuals high in achievement orientation enjoyed a word game more in competition than those low in achievement orientation across conditions of positive and negative feedback. We also examined the effects of performance feedback and found positive effects of interpersonal (outcome) and intrapersonal feedback that were independent of competitive context. In Study 2, we found that achievement orientation moderated the effects of competition, even in the absence of outcome feedback. Mediational analyses identified competence valuation, perceived challenge, eagerness, and positive affect as mediators of competition and feedback effects on intrinsic motivation. © 1999 Academic Press.