Social and psychological rewards (for the sport and the performer).

The idea

Doping can bring rewards beyond the physiological. For the performer, psychological rewards include increased confidence, reduced anxiety before competition and a stronger belief in winning, which can sharpen focus and motivation. Social rewards include praise from coaches, teammates and spectators, media attention, sponsorship, selection and status within the sport. For the sport itself, rewards include higher performance standards, record-breaking displays, greater spectator interest and commercial income. These rewards help explain why an athlete may keep doping even when health risks are known: the gains are immediate and visible, while the costs are delayed. Learn to separate performer rewards from sport rewards, and psychological from social, so each example is placed correctly.

What earns the marks

• Psychological rewards for the performer: raised confidence, lowered pre-competition anxiety, stronger self-belief and increased motivation to train and compete.
• Social rewards for the performer: praise and approval from coaches, teammates and spectators, plus media profile, sponsorship, selection and enhanced status.
• Rewards for the sport: higher performance standards, record-breaking performances, greater spectator interest, media coverage and commercial income.
• Rewards can be immediate and visible while health costs are delayed, which helps explain continued doping despite known risks.
• Correct classification matters: performer versus sport, and psychological versus social, must be distinguished in the chosen option.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

• Treating all rewards as belonging to the performer.

  Put it right: Rewards for the sport itself, such as higher standards and greater spectator interest, must also be recognised.

• Assuming rewards are only financial.

  Put it right: Money is one social or commercial reward, but praise, selection, confidence and reduced anxiety are equally valid.

• Confusing psychological with social rewards.

  Put it right: Confidence and anxiety control are internal, whereas praise, media attention and sponsorship come from other people.

Exam tips

• Read the stem carefully to check whether it asks about the performer, the sport, or both, then eliminate options that only cover the other category.
• Sort each option into psychological, social or sport-level before choosing, rather than judging whether it sounds generally positive.
• Reject any option describing a health harm or a physiological mechanism, because those belong to other statements in this section.