Predictors of moral behaviour in football

Abstract

The purpose of the present thesis was to investigate predictors of prosocial and antisocial aspects of morality in football. In Study 1, moral identity, task, and ego orientations were included to predict prosocial and antisocial judgement and behaviour. Prosocial judgement was predicted by task orientation at low levels of ego orientation. Antisocial judgement and behaviour was positively predicted by ego orientation and negatively predicted by moral identity. In Study 2, social goals were included with task and ego orientations as predictors of prosocial and antisocial behaviour. Prosocial behaviour was positively predicted by task and social affiliation orientations and negatively predicted by social status orientation. Antisocial behaviour was positively predicted by ego and social status orientations. In Study 3, prosocial and antisocial behaviours were observed in two experimental and one control condition. Participants in the task-involving condition engaged in more prosocial choices and participants in the ego-involving group engaged in more antisocial behaviour when compared to the other two groups. Females engaged in more prosocial behaviour than males. In Study 4, the stability and reciprocal relationships between task and ego orientations, task and ego involving climates, and prosocial and antisocial behaviour were explored over a competitive season. Variables were moderately stable. Early season moral behaviours predicted late season motivational variables and a reciprocal relationship was identified between antisocial behaviour and an ego-involving climate. Findings are discussed in relation to theory, past research and their practical application.