Different groups of attributes that some athletes tend to give certain values to regarding their success and failure:
INTERNAL ATTRIBUTES : Skill level, own performance, mental effort, physical effort. (things under your control)
EXTERNAL ATTRIBUTES : Factors of luck, difficulty of task. (things outside of your control)
Some "experts" believe that successful athletes attribute their success to internal attributes and failure to external attributes as it has a positive effect on their confidence levels.
I would argue that it is the opposite and that successful athletes attribute failure to internal attributes. Success can be a loose term over a short period or during a whole career. My examples are below;
"I just got caught, these things happen" Chuck Liddell at the end of his career blamed luck of the fight (external attribute) as the main reason for several knockout loses in a row, whether he could have evolved his skillset or changed his approach (got a new chin) is another debate but in my opinion is a reason for his failure at the time.
"I need to improve, train harder and be 100% prepared" A better example for success is GSP, after a loss he blamed his own performance and preparation. From that moment on he has had the best success of his career and in many people's eyes come back as a more successful athlete. Training with Roger Gracie, Freddie Roach and national wrestling teams is in my eyes the ability to blame internal values for his failure.
Thoughts and examples guys? Peace