Moral Development and Decision-Making About Aggression in NCAA Athletics

• In Event: Examining Aspects of College Student Athletes

Abstract

Previous research has called into question the value of sport participation with regard to social and moral development and has indicated moral deficiencies amongst athletes, particularly those competing at the NCAA level. This current research re-examines moral decision-making about aggression in sport and non-sport contexts and across individuals with different athletic experiences. Guided by social domain theory, an approach to social and moral decision-making, we interviewed 136 undergraduates and student-athletes about acts of physical aggression that took place in sport and non-sport settings. Results highlight the types of complex social reasoning that happens within sport contexts and the ways in which athletes remain engaged with moral concerns while navigating the unique landscape of NCAA sports.

Author

• Amy Banas, University of California - Berkeley