Future College Athlete and The Rise Of Perfectionism: Future Trend 2—Unethical Sports Behavior
By Michael Cerreto
Perfectionism is on the rise. If the trend continues for the next ten years, it may profoundly impact the personalities and mental health of athletes who enter college in the 2030s. The following is the second of a seven-part series about how the rise of perfectionism can impact future college athletes. Let’s look at Future Trend 2.
“Sports do not build character; they reveal it.”
Future Trend 2: Unethical Sports Behavior Will Increase Based On The Drive For Perfection And Winning By Any Means
Perfectionism, a trait often associated with athletes, has a significant impact on sports ethics. A study by Sun and Tai (2022) revealed that this drive for perfection can influence an athlete's ethical behavior during sports practices and competitions. The research found that college athletes, who often strive for perfection, tend to have lower moral attitudes than their non-athlete peers. This can lead to them engaging in questionable behavior on the field, as highlighted by Kang et al. (2021).
As perfectionism grows, college athletes in the 2030s will increasingly develop perfection-at-all-costs or the ends justify the means mindset. This mindset will increase unsportsmanlike and unethical behavior (Kang et al. 2021).
If perfectionism continues to grow, college athletes may exhibit more unethical sports behaviors, such as (Kang et al., 2021):
Lying
Intentionally injuring opponents
Exhibiting more aggressive physical and verbal behavior
Using performance-enhancing drugs
Cheating
Bullying
Blaming referees
Blaming teammates, coaches, and the athletics department
Faking injuries
Athletes will justify unethical actions by prioritizing winning above all else, believing that the ends justify the means (Kang et al., 2021).
References
Sun, K., & Tai, J. (2022). The relationship between perfectionism and sports ethics among young athletes based on achievement goal theory. Frontiers in Psychology, 13(7), 1-6. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.771332
Kang, S., Kim, I., & Lee, K. (2021). Predicting deviant behaviors in sports using the extended theory of planned behavior. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 678948.
