Moral Reasoning of High School Student Athletes and General Students: An Empirical Study versus Personal Testimony

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to analyze cognitive moral reasoning of high school student athletes and their nonathlete peers (n = 1,330). Students were evaluated with the Hahm-Beller Values Choice Inventory in the Sport Milieu. Nonathletes (NA) scored significantly higher (M = 67.75, SEM = 0.39) compared to team sport (TS) athletes (M = 62.10, SEM = 0.40). Females scored significantly higher (M = 68.78, SEM = 0.34) than males (M = 60.97, SEM = 0.38). Female NA (M = 69.54, SEM = 0.33) and female TS athletes (M = 67.50, SEM = 0.35) scored significantly different compared to male TS athletes (M = 59.21, SEM = 0.42). This study supports cognitive research data of collegiate athlete populations. Interscholastic athletes reason from a less consistent, impartial, and reflective moral reasoning than do nonathletes.

Sports Build Character?!

“…Athletes, especially on team sports, tend to score lower on character tests (Krause & Priest, 1993;Beller & Stoll, 1995;Dunn & Dunn, 1999). George Sage (personal communication, May, 2004) believes that sport in America has reached a "crisis" point and that most athletes' sports experiences are detrimental to their character development.…”

“…George Sage (personal communication, May, 2004) believes that sport in America has reached a "crisis" point and that most athletes' sports experiences are detrimental to their character development. The majority of the research reports that there is a negative relationship between participation in sports and character development (Krause & Priest, 1993;Dunn & Dunn, 1999;Silva, 1983;Beller & Stoll, 1995;Bredemeier & Shields, 1984a, 1984bHahm, 1989). …”

“…Coaches and parents say they are teaching respect and fair play, but the results do not show it. If coaches and parents are using sport as a venue to develop character in young athletes, and many say they are, either they are teaching and modeling the wrong behaviors, or the kids are not learning (Beller & Stoll, 1995). Rudd and Stoll (2004) used their RSBH-VJI to compare college athletes to non-athletes in an attempt to understand the effects of sport participation on moral and social character.…”

“…Besides attempting to validate a Portuguese version of the instrument, they report, in concurrence with other findings in this area, that athletes scored lower than nonathletes, and that males scored lower than females. Beller and Stoll (1995) also sampled 1400 high school students using the HBVCI. Their results showed that non-athletes used a significantly higher reasoned approach to moral dilemmas in sport as compared to their team and individual athlete peers.…”

Beauty and the Beast: Perception of Beauty for the Female Athlete

“…I have spent a lifetime arguing, supporting, and writing about the rights of women to participate in sport [10,11]. I have also studied the negative effect of competition in the sport on moral development and moral reasoning of both men and women [12][13][14][15]. Many times I have wondered if the day to day struggles concerning beauty, weight control, and participation of women involved in athletics are worth it.…”