Rethinking the Napoleon Complex: Weight Predicts Aggressive Behavior in Mixed Martial Arts

• In Event: 336 - Section on Body and Embodiment Roundtables (one-hour)
  In Refereed Roundtable: Table 03. Bodies in Motion

Abstract

The Napoleon complex theory remains highly influential in the way we interpret and understand homosocial interactions between men, even though very little research exists in support of the theory. Recently however, the theory has been tested in various sports, producing agreeable results. In order to accurately test the theory in a mixed martial arts setting, I devised a mixed-methods study, including both a content analysis and semi-structured interviews. In the content analysis, video content of mixed martial arts contests (N=558) was analyzed in order to determine whether shorter males behave more aggressively toward their opponents. The touching of gloves during a fight was used as a measure of non-aggressive behavior while the absence of touching gloves was used as a measure of aggressive behavior and logistic regressions were run in order to determine whether a relationship between height and aggressive behavior exists. The study revealed a negative correlation between height and aggressive behavior as well as a positive correlation between weight and aggressive behavior. In the qualitative analysis, one-hour length interviews (N=15) with professional fighters of different weight classes were conducted in order to gain further insight into their interactions with their opponents. The insight gained by both the quantitative and qualitative aspects of the study suggest that the Napoleon complex misses the real masculinizing element of the body: weight. In light of this, a new concept is introduced: weight as capital.

Author

• Justen Kyle Hamilton, DePaul University