Morality in sport

Question 1

what is morality

Answer 1

Nobody can acquire honor by doing what is
wrong”
President Thomas Jefferson, US President,
1801-1809

Question 2

what is the Six-stage sequence (divided into 3 levels) of moral development
and problem solving in relation to moral reasoning?

Answer 2

Pre-Conventional Level-
Solving moral conflict through egocentric reasoning
Conventional Level-
Resolve moral conflict through the eyes of groups and society
Post-Conventional Level-
Recognise universal values such as justice and equality.
Moral
decisions based on self-chosen ethical principles.

Question 3

what is Bracketed Morality

Answer 3

-Moral reasoning in sport is depart from that of
everyday life.
-Moral reasoning in sport is less mature (i.e.,
more egocentric) than in everyday life termed
as “game reasoning”
-Antisocial acts could be deemed more
legitimate in sport contexts.

Question 4

What influences athletes’ moral reasoning?

Answer 4

Sport Type:
Contact vs. Non-contact

Moral Atmosphere
refers to a set of collective norms regarding
moral action on the part of group members.

Significant Others
(e.g., coaches, teacher, parents, peers)

Question 5

Rest’s model of moral action(four process)

Answer 5

1) Interpret situation and consider courses of action
and welfare for others
2) What ought to be done (moral judgement)
3) What one intends to do (moral intention)
4) Implementing a planned action (moral behaviour)

Question 6

what is Moral Reasoning

Answer 6

How a individual resolves a moral conflict.

Question 7

what is Moral Functioning

Answer 7

Collective term for moral judgement,

moral intention and moral behaviour

Question 8

Measurements of moral behaviour

Answer 8

Self-report:
Frequency of sport specific moral behaviours

Observation:
Video analysis of behaviours – identify and code moral
acts.

Coach ratings:
Coaches asked to rate frequency of aggressive acts
from their team members

Question 9

What is aggression

Answer 9

Aggression - the intention to harm another
individual outside the rules of the activity
(Tenenbaum et al., 1997)

Question 10

Two types of aggression

Answer 10

Instrumental (proactive) – intention to harm
as a means to an end (e.g., external goal of
victory or prestige)

Hostile (reactive) – directed to another
following provocation (e.g., anger response)

Question 11

WQhat is assertion

Answer 11

In short, in life, as in a football game, the principle
to follow is: Hit the line hard; don’t foul and don’t
shirk, but hit the line hard!”

Theodore Roosevelt, The Strenuous Life (1900)

Question 12

What is assertive behaviour

Answer 12

Involves legitimate use of physical or verbal force to

achieve purpose without the intention to harm.

Question 13

Hostile aggression characteristics

Answer 13

1. Intent to harm
2. Goal to harm
3. Unusual effort and
   energy expenditure
   (anger present)

Question 14

Instrumental aggression characteristics

Answer 14

1. Intent to harm
2. Goal to win
3. No anger

Question 15

Instinct theory - who and what is it?

Answer 15

(Freud, 1950; Gill, 1966)

Human have innate instinct to be aggressive. Sport is a context to release “pent-up” aggression

Question 16

Social learning theory - who and what?

Answer 16

Learning as a vicarious process through modelling/ imitation

Question 17

Frustration hypothesis - who and what?

Answer 17

(Dollard et al., 1939)
Aggression that results from anger
when frustrated. Aggression
provides a cathartic effect

Question 18

Reformulated Frustration hypothesis

Answer 18

Berkowitz (1965, 1993):
- Provides interactional model between social learning and
frustration hypothesis
- Frustration does not always lead to aggression but
increases the likelihood via arousal and anger
- Aggression only results if deemed acceptable via socially
learning cues (e.g., moral atmosphere, significant others)

frustration - increased arousal - appropriateness of action - aggression

Question 19

motivation - task goal orientations

Answer 19

success is defined in terms of self-referenced
criteria, such as mastery and
improvement.

Question 20

motivation - ego goal orientations

Answer 20

success is defined in terms of other-referenced
criteria, such as being superior or outperforming
others

Question 21

motivation - mastery climate

Answer 21

skill mastery and improvement is emphasised where
effort is praised and mistakes are
seen as part of learning

Question 22

motivation - performance climate

Answer 22

normative comparisons between group members
is emphasised where superiority is
praised.

Question 23

How is motivation linked with moral

behaviour in sport?

Answer 23

Ego orientation
Task orientation  
            //
antisocial behaviour 
            ^^
performance climate

Task orientation» Pro social behaviour <

Question 24

Implications for controlling antisocial

behaviour

Answer 24

Moral education/ modelling of good sportspersonship
 Emphasis on mastery climate
 Performance climate not emphasises at the expense of
mastery climate
 Emotion control strategies (e.g., relaxation, cognitive
techniques)