Every time Sam brings home his report card he dreads showing it to his father. Sam's father takes Sam's academic success for granted and when Sam does not do well, his father assumes Sam is at fault. His new report card shows Sam has earned straight A's except for one B in English. Although an excellent report card, Sam is dreading his father's reaction, which will be to focus on what happened in English. This pattern of parenting is likely motivating Sam through:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Sam's father's focus on Sam's mistakes, even when he has done well, is likely motivating Sam through performance-approach goals. Performance-approach goals are motivated by the desire to avoid negative outcomes, such as criticism or punishment. In this case, Sam is trying to avoid his father's negative reaction by getting good grades.

Every Time Sam Brings Home His Report Card He Dreads