Bracketed Morality Revisited: How Do Athletes Behave in Two Contexts?

2013 ◽  
Vol 35 (5) ◽  
pp. 449-463 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Kavussanu ◽  
Ian D. Boardley ◽  
Sam S. Sagar ◽  
Christopher Ring
Keyword(s):  
Moral Reasoning ◽  
Prosocial Behavior ◽  
Antisocial Behavior ◽  
Goal Orientation ◽  
Moral Disengagement ◽  
Empirical Support ◽  
Moral Behavior ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Ego Orientation ◽  
Highly Correlated

The concept of bracketed morality has received empirical support in several sport studies (e.g., Bredemeier & Shields, 1986a, 1986b). However, these studies have focused on moral reasoning. In this research, we examined bracketed morality with respect to moral behavior in sport and university contexts, in two studies. Male and female participants (Study 1: N = 331; Study 2: N = 372) completed questionnaires assessing prosocial and antisocial behavior toward teammates and opponents in sport and toward other students at university. Study 2 participants also completed measures of moral disengagement and goal orientation in both contexts. In most cases, behavior in sport was highly correlated with behavior at university. In addition, participants reported higher prosocial behavior toward teammates and higher antisocial behavior toward opponents in sport than toward other students at university. The effects of context on antisocial behavior were partially mediated by moral disengagement and ego orientation. Our findings extend the bracketed morality concept to prosocial and antisocial behavior.

scholarly journals Effects of Goal Orientation and Perceived Value of Toughness on Antisocial Behavior in Soccer: The Mediating Role of Moral Disengagement

2010 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 176-192 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian David Boardley ◽  
Maria Kavussanu
Keyword(s):  
Antisocial Behavior ◽  
Goal Orientation ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Moral Disengagement ◽  
Perceived Value ◽  
Soccer Players ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Task Orientation ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Ego Orientation

In this study, we examined (a) the effects of goal orientations and perceived value of toughness on antisocial behavior toward opponents and teammates in soccer and (b) whether any effects were mediated by moral disengagement. Male soccer players (N = 307) completed questionnaires assessing the aforementioned variables. Structural equation modeling indicated that ego orientation had positive and task orientation had negative direct effects on antisocial behavior toward opponents. Further, ego orientation and perceived value of toughness had indirect positive effects on antisocial behavior toward opponents and teammates which were mediated by moral disengagement. Collectively, these findings aid our understanding of the effects of personal influences on antisocial behavior and of psychosocial mechanisms that could facilitate such antisocial conduct in male soccer players.

scholarly journals The Effects of Goal Involvement on Moral Behavior in an Experimentally Manipulated Competitive Setting

2007 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 190-207 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luke Sage ◽  
Maria Kavussanu
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Sex Differences ◽  
Prosocial Behavior ◽  
Antisocial Behavior ◽  
Goal Orientation ◽  
Moral Behavior ◽  
Prosocial Behaviors ◽  
Antisocial Behaviors ◽  
Ego Involvement

In this experiment we examined the effects of task and ego involvement on three measures of moral behavior—prosocial choice, observed prosocial behavior, and observed antisocial behavior—in a competitive setting. We also investigated sex differences in moral behavior. Male (n = 48) and female (n = 48) college students were randomly assigned to a task-involving, an ego-involving, or a control condition. Participants played two 10-min games of table soccer and completed measures of prosocial choice, goal involvement, goal orientation, and demographics. The two games were recorded, and frequencies of prosocial and antisocial behavior were coded. Players assigned to the task-involving condition were higher in prosocial choice than those in the ego-involving or control conditions. Individuals in the ego-involving condition displayed more antisocial behaviors than those in the task-involving or control conditions. Finally, females displayed more prosocial behaviors than males.

scholarly journals Antisocial and Prosocial Behavior in Sport: The Role of Motivational Climate, Basic Psychological Needs, and Moral Disengagement

2015 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 257-273 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ken Hodge ◽  
Daniel F. Gucciardi
Keyword(s):  
Prosocial Behavior ◽  
Antisocial Behavior ◽  
Moral Disengagement ◽  
Self Determination Theory ◽  
Psychological Needs ◽  
Motivational Climate ◽  
Need Satisfaction ◽  
Basic Psychological Needs ◽  
Motivational Climates

The purpose of this investigation was to examine whether the relationships between contextual factors and basic psychological needs were related to antisocial and prosocial behavior in sport. A two-study project employing Bayesian path analysis was conducted with competitive athletes (Study 1, n = 291; Study 2, n = 272). Coach and teammate autonomy-supportive climates had meaningful direct relations with need satisfaction and prosocial behavior. Coach and teammate controlling climates had meaningful direct relations with antisocial behavior. Need satisfaction was both directly and indirectly related with both prosocial and antisocial behavior, whereas moral disengagement was directly and indirectly related with antisocial behavior. Overall, these findings reflected substantial evidence from the literature on self-determination theory that autonomy-supportive motivational climates are important environmental influences for need satisfaction, and are important correlates of prosocial behavior in sport, whereas controlling coach and teammate climates, along with moral disengagement, were important correlates of antisocial behavior in sport.

scholarly journals The Prosocial and Antisocial Behavior in Sport Scale

2009 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 97-117 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Kavussanu ◽  
Ian D. Boardley
Keyword(s):  
Prosocial Behavior ◽  
Antisocial Behavior ◽  
Goal Orientation ◽  
Concurrent Validity ◽  
Team Sport ◽  
Antisocial Behaviors ◽  
Factor Analyses ◽  
Two Factors ◽  
Scalar Invariance

This research aimed to (a) develop a measure of prosocial and antisocial behavior in sport, (b) examine its invariance across sex and sport, and (c) provide evidence for its discriminant and concurrent validity. We conducted two studies. In study 1, team sport athletes (N = 1,213) recruited from 103 teams completed questionnaires assessing demographics and prosocial and antisocial behaviors in sport. Factor analyses revealed two factors representing prosocial behavior and two factors representing antisocial behavior. The model had a very good fit to the data and showed configural, metric, and scalar invariance across sex and sport. The final scale consisted of 20 items. In Study 2, team-sport athletes (N = 106) completed the scale and measures of empathy and goal orientation. Analyses provided support for the discriminant and concurrent validity of the scale. In conclusion, the new scale can be used to measure prosocial and antisocial behaviors in team sport.

Winning Isn't Everything: Goal Orientation and Gender Differences in University Leisure-Skills Classes

2009 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 54-64 ◽  
Author(s):  
Denise M. Anderson ◽  
Anthony W. Dixon
Keyword(s):  
Gender Differences ◽  
University Students ◽  
Goal Orientation ◽  
Achievement Motivation ◽  
Task Orientation ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Ego Orientation ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Intention To Continue

Achievement motivation is predicated on the notion that a person wants to demonstrate competence and feel successful and is motivated to achieve these outcomes. A person's goal orientation describes the individual's motivation—an ego orientation presupposes that achievement is a result of ability, whereas a task orientation ties achievement to effort. Understanding a person's achievement motivation can help us better understand how to facilitate positive leisure experiences and long-term participation in recreation activities. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the goal orientation of male and female university students enrolled in leisure-skills courses. Results suggest that there are gender differences in goal orientation that may have an impact on enjoyment of and intention to continue participation in a recreation activity, regardless of the activity.

Predictors of Moral Disengagement in Sport

2015 ◽  
Vol 37 (6) ◽  
pp. 646-658 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Light Shields ◽  
Christopher D. Funk ◽  
Brenda Light Bredemeier
Keyword(s):  
Moral Reasoning ◽  
Everyday Life ◽  
Moral Disengagement ◽  
Moral Identity ◽  
Moral Behavior ◽  
Hierarchical Regression ◽  
Intercollegiate Athletes ◽  
Moral Attentiveness

Researchers have made productive use of Bandura’s (1991) construct of moral disengagement (MD) to help explain why sport participants deviate from ethical ideals. In this study of intercollegiate athletes from diverse sports (N = 713), we examined MD in relation to other character-related variables: empathy, moral identity, moral attentiveness, and contesting orientations. We also examined whether moral attentiveness conforms to the pattern of “bracketed morality” found in moral reasoning (Shields & Bredemeier, 1995) and moral behavior (Kavussanu, Boardley, Sagar, & Ring, 2013). Results indicated that MD correlated positively with perceptual moral attentiveness and war contesting orientation; MD correlated negatively with empathy, moral identity, reflective moral attentiveness, and partnership contesting orientation. Results of hierarchical regression demonstrated that gender, contesting orientations, moral identity, and one form of moral attentiveness were significant predictors of MD. Finally, sport participants were found to be less morally attentive in sport than in everyday life.

scholarly journals Examining Etiological Connection between Antisocial Behavior and Moral Disengagement: Evidence from Tourism & Hospitality Sector

2019 ◽  
Vol IV (I) ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Amna Tariq ◽  
Shahzad Khurram ◽  
Amir Ishaque
Keyword(s):  
Prosocial Behavior ◽  
Antisocial Behavior ◽  
Human Resource ◽  
Ethical Leadership ◽  
Moral Disengagement ◽  
Ethical Standard ◽  
Ethical Orientation ◽  
Tourism Sector ◽  
Hospitality Sector ◽  
Hospitality And Tourism

It is estimated that by 2025, tourism & hospitality sector will contribute US$7.1 billion (₨ 1 trillion) to the economy of Pakistan. However, one can only attach such high hopes to this sector when human resource in this sector displays prosocial behavior to both domestic and foreign tourists. The objective of the study is to examine the level of antisocial behavior of the managers working in this sector and test its relationship with moral disengagement. We also examine ethical orientation as mediator and ethical leadership as moderator in this relationship. Data were collected from 253 managers working in the hospitality and tourism sector of Pakistan. We find that moral disengagement has significant effect in promoting antisocial behavior by easing and expediting a process where actors convince themselves that ethical standard do not apply on them. We also find that ethical orientation mediates and ethical leadership moderates this relationship respectively.

Prosocial and Antisocial Behavior in Sport: The Role of Coaching Style, Autonomous vs. Controlled Motivation, and Moral Disengagement

2011 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 527-547 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ken Hodge ◽  
Chris Lonsdale
Keyword(s):  
Prosocial Behavior ◽  
Antisocial Behavior ◽  
Moral Disengagement ◽  
Autonomous Motivation ◽  
Self Determination Theory ◽  
Self Determination ◽  
Antisocial Behaviors ◽  
Controlled Motivation ◽  
Coaching Style

The purpose of this study was to examine whether the relationships between contextual factors (i.e., autonomy-supportive vs. controlling coaching style) and person factors (i.e., autonomous vs. controlled motivation) outlined in self-determination theory (SDT) were related to prosocial and antisocial behaviors in sport. We also investigated moral disengagement as a mediator of these relationships. Athletes’ (n = 292, M = 19.53 years) responses largely supported our SDT-derived hypotheses. Results indicated that an autonomy-supportive coaching style was associated with prosocial behavior toward teammates; this relationship was mediated by autonomous motivation. Controlled motivation was associated with antisocial behavior toward teammates and antisocial behavior toward opponents, and these two relationships were mediated by moral disengagement. The results provide support for research investigating the effect of autonomy-supportive coaching interventions on athletes’ prosocial and antisocial behavior.

scholarly journals Relationship between Adolescent Athletes’ Values and Behavior in Sport and Perceived Coach’s Character Development Competency

2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (91) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomas Stupuris ◽  
Saulius Šukys ◽  
Ilona Tilindienė
Keyword(s):  
Prosocial Behavior ◽  
Antisocial Behavior ◽  
Character Development ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Moral Behavior ◽  
Coaching Efficacy ◽  
Youth Athletes ◽  
Antisocial Conduct ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
Coaching Effectiveness

Research  background  and  hypothesis.  This  study  examined  the  relations  between  reported  youth  athletes’ prosocial  and  antisocial  behavior  and  personal  and  social  factors  in  sport  context  and  whether  these  variables  accounted for age and sports experience differences in reported behaviors values in sport and perceptions of coach’s  character development competency. The aim of the research was to determine age and sports experience differences in manifestation of youth athletes’ values in sport, perceived coach’s character development competency and behaviors that occur in sport, and to examine interrelations between these variables. Research methods. The sample included 201 athletes recruited from Kaunas and Alytus sports schools. The participants  completed  the Youth  Sport Value  Questionnaire-2  (YSVQ-2  -  Lee  et  al.,  2008),  the  Prosocial  and Antisocial Behavior in Sport Scale (PABSS – Kavussanu, Boardley, 2009), and adapted version of the Coaching Efficacy Scale (CES– Feltz et al., 1999).Research results. The positive correlation between values in sport, perceived coach’s character development  competency  and  prosocial  behavior  of  athletes  were  established.  These  values  also  had  negative  correlations  with  antisocial  behavior  whereas  status  values  correlated  negatively  with  prosocial  behavior.  Coach’s  character  development competency was perceived stronger by younger athletes (p < 0.05). Competence values were more  important to these athletes compared to older ones (p < 0.05).  Discussion and conclusions. Research revealed the importance of moral and competence values for adolescent  athlete’s moral behavior in sport. Perceived character-development effectiveness positively correlated with athletes’  prosocial behavior; however, it was unrelated to antisocial behavior. Thus, perceiving the coach as being effective in  instilling an attitude of good moral character may lead to an increased frequency of desirable behaviors but does not  appear to have any effect on antisocial conduct. It was found that athletes’ prosocial acts were more frequent than antisocial ones, however, more experienced athletes displayed more frequent antisocial behavior to the teammates.  These findings are consistent with the previous presumption that low frequency of engagement in antisocial behaviors   does not necessarily mean that one frequently engages in prosocial action, or vice versa.Keywords:  sport, athletes’ moral behavior, values in sport, perceptions, coaching effectiveness.

scholarly journals Moral Behavior in the Locker Room Predicts Perceptions of Task Cohesion in Youth Ice Hockey Player

2018 ◽  
Vol 65 (1) ◽  
pp. 273-280 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott A. Graupensperger ◽  
Marie S. Tisak
Keyword(s):  
Prosocial Behavior ◽  
Antisocial Behavior ◽  
Youth Sport ◽  
Moral Behavior ◽  
Ice Hockey ◽  
Hierarchical Regression ◽  
Antisocial Behaviors ◽  
Task Goal ◽  
Locker Room ◽  
Task Cohesion

Abstract Task cohesion (i.e., perceptions of team unity towards a task goal and positive feelings towards one’s own involvement) is associated with myriad psychosocial benefits for youth athletes. Accordingly, sport researchers and youth sport stakeholders are interested in ways of fostering task cohesion. Recent work has found evidence that prosocial and antisocial behaviors among teammates are associated with athletes’ perceptions of task cohesion; however, this research has been limited to moral behavior that takes place during gameplay. Despite youth sport experiences extending well beyond practices and games, we know very little about how moral behavior between teammates, in settings outside gameplay, relates to perceptions of task cohesion. To address this knowledge gap, the current study investigated whether prosocial and antisocial behaviors in the locker room setting were associated with perceptions of task cohesion in a sample of 238 youth male ice hockey players (Mage = 10.75). Using hierarchical regression analyses, our results revealed that (a) perceptions of peer prosocial behavior was positively associated with task cohesion, (b) perceptions of peer antisocial behavior was negatively associated with task cohesion, and (c) self-reported perceptions of participants’ own moral behavior was not significantly associated with task cohesion. Given the association with perceptions of task cohesion, these findings underline the value in promoting prosocial behavior and reducing antisocial behavior in sport settings outside gameplay and hold multiple theoretical and practical implications. Notably, moral behavior that takes place outside gameplay settings may be related to perceptions of task cohesion that primarily relates to goals and interactions during gameplay.

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