Achievement motivation and intraindividual affective variability during competence pursuits: A round of golf as a multilevel data structure

Competence pursuits can create an emotional roller-coaster for performers but little is known about how affect, thoughts, or behaviors vary over time during such pursuits. This study applied achievement motivation theory to predict intraindividual variability in affect, goals, and performance during a round of golf. In general terms, results indicated that golfers’ mood influenced the strength of achievement goals; however, neither affect nor goals predicted performance for a given hole. Performance, mastery-based goals, avoidance goals, and fear of failure were linked to affective changes from the beginning to end of a hole. These results illustrate how individual differences in achievement motivation are a part of an integrated system of affect, cognition, and behavior during competence pursuits.