Does playing competitive sports in high
school make you more aggressive and
competitive later in life?
Why is this my topic?
• Have a deep involvement in
sports.
• Am very competitive.
• Wanted to understand the
psychology of aggression and
competition.
Research Findings
• Aggression is something instilled in a child
through contact sports earlier than high school
• Athletes who are used to getting what they want
through intimidation exhibit the same behaviors
outside of their sport
•
70% of ex-convicts had some involvement in
contact sports
Research shows that women who played a
sport as a child or teen benefit in the
following ways:
•Go further in their education;
•Land better jobs;
•and make more money.
82 percent of women in executive positions
played an organized sport after elementary
school.
And one out of every two women who
make $75,000 or more, identifies
themselves as an athlete.
Research findings on testosterone:
• New scientific evidence refutes the preconception that
testosterone causes aggressive behavior.
• Research: Other studies show that “testosterone does
not induce aggression.”
• Or as Dr. Naef says, "If you give a lizard
testosterone, it becomes more aggressive.
But we are not lizards.”
More Research findings:
Audience demands controlled Violence
• Violence is widespread in sports, with roots in
ancient times.
• When violence increases in sports, fan attendance
and TV viewership goes up.
• To reduce levels of violence in sports, our culture
as a whole will need to do some major selfreflection.
• Research Findings… Aggression in sports is related to
anabolic steroids
Known as roid rage. juice, hype or pump
Steroids Cause:
•Mood swings
•Aggressive, even violent behavior
•Depression
•Psychotic episodes
•Addiction
• 5% of teen boys and 2.5% of teen girls have used some form of
anabolic steroids.in 2005
• Barry Bonds/A-Rod/Lance Armstrong/Chris Benoit/and several
Olympic athletes.
Obstacles I overcame…
• I am not used to being in charge.
• Objective research was limited except for
personal opinions.
• I have played sports all my life and am very
competitive and had to work to be objective.
Successes I have had:
• I was able to relate my research to my personal
life.
• I met different people in the Clayton community.
• I learned to appreciate all that team sports gives
to the player.
• I learned that it is not the sport; it is not the
team, it is the individual that is aggressive.
Links between research and product.
Through four years of varsity
football , I used teamwork and
leadership to help put together an
organization that gives students
an opportunity to help others..
Competition is encouraged in
Can-do Kids through positive
contests.
My product….
What I learned from team sports…
Coach Anthony Barbour : “You get knocked down in life,
but you have to get up and keep fighting.”
• Focus
• Self discipline
• Determination
• Teamwork (no I in team)
• Help you to lose any aggression you have during the day.
• Learn about “family” outside your relatives.
• Sports are a social melting pot.
What I learned about Connor Barbour
• I am good with kids.
• I don’t mind speaking to people…..(one
on one)
• It’s hard to focus on a good service
project during a winning football
season….(9-3)!
• Time Management!!
• Easier to get adults involved in a
community project than youth.
• I wish I could go back and re-do my paper
because I have gained so much knowledge
on my topic.
Thank you for your time.
Do you have any questions?