A study of association between superstitious rituals and locus of control among intervarsity male players (original) (raw)
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Superstitious Ritual Behavior in Sports: A Comparative Study among Various Athletes
Journal of Sports Research
The aim of the study was to assess the superstitious ritual behavior of the University level sports persons and to find out that male or female athlete who believes more in superstitions. Eighty-three (83) University level athletes (Male – 44 and Female – 39) of 18 to 25 years from Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan, India have been selected through purposive random sampling. The Superstitious Ritual Questionnaire (SRQ) framed by Flanagan (2013) has been used to assess the superstitious ritual behavior and its effectiveness on sports performance enhancement. In overall percentage 25.30% of male athletes and 20.48% of female athletes are of the opinion that sometimes superstitious ritual behavior is effective in sports performance enhancement. Statistical analysis does not reveal any significant relationship between superstitious ritual behavior (Male: Mean 108.48, SD 22.38; Female: Mean 109.03, SD 24.46) and its effectiveness (Male: Mean 3.23, SD 0.74; Female: Mean 2.80, SD 0.73...
The Psychological Benefits of Superstitious Rituals in Top Sport: A Study Among Top Sportspersons 1
The current research addresses the psychological benefits of superstitious rituals in top sport, examining the circumstances under which top-class sportspersons are especially committed to enacting rituals prior to a game (ritual commitment). Consistent with the hypotheses, findings revealed that ritual commitment is greater when (a) uncertainty is high rather than low; and (b) importance of the game is high rather than low. Complementary analyses revealed that the state of psychological tension mediated both effect of importance and uncertainty on ritual commitment. Moreover, players with an external locus of control exhibited greater levels of ritual commitment than did players with an internal locus of control. The results are discussed in terms of the tension-regulation function of superstitious rituals in top sport.
Religiosity, Locus of Control, and Superstitious Belief
2004
The identification of specific characteristics that are associated with superstition may help to avoid the many risks (e.g. health anxiety, irrational behavior, emotional maladjustment) involved with extreme superstitious belief. This study examines two possible correlates of superstition: religiosity and locus of control. ANOVA suggest that levels of religiosity do not have a significant relationship with levels of superstitious or paranormal beliefs. Analyses do reveal a positive relationship between external or chance loci of control and superstitious beliefs, but no relationship for internal locus of control with superstitious or paranormal belief. The correlations of external and chance loci of control with higher superstitious beliefs may implicate a tendency for such individuals to view life as uncontrollable, hard to deal with, or affect their self-efficacy. Knowing some of the personal characteristics of people with strong superstitious beliefs may help us to understand and prevent the risks that arise with the extremity of such beliefs.
The Psychological Benefits of Superstitious Rituals in Top Sport
2005
The current research addresses the psychological benefits of superstitious rituals in top sport, examining the circumstances under which top-class sportspersons are especially committed to enacting rituals prior to a game (ritual commitment). Consistent with the hypotheses, findings revealed that ritual commitment is greater when (a) uncertainty is high rather than low; and (b) importance of the game is high rather than low. Complementary analyses revealed that the state of psychological tension mediated both effect of importance and uncertainty on ritual commitment. Moreover, players with an external locus of control exhibited greater levels of ritual commitment than did players with an internal locus of control. The results are discussed in terms of the tension-regulation function of superstitious rituals in top sport.
Predictors of Superstitious Beliefs Predictors of Superstitious Beliefs
This study investigated whether relationships exist among, personal control, coping mechanism, primary control, secondary control and superstitious beliefs. The participants were 375 Ghanaian student athletes (females =44%). They completed measures of self-reported superstitious beliefs, personal control, coping mechanisms, primary and secondary control strategies. The data were analyzed to evaluate the correlates of both positive and negative superstitious beliefs and how constructs of personal control, coping mechanisms and control strategies, predict positive and negative superstitious beliefs. The results indicated that personal control, coping mechanisms and control strategies were predictors of negative and positive superstitious beliefs. In the final model Exaggerated internal control, God-mediated control, emotional support, and substance use were predictors of negative superstitions. Exaggerated internal control, Substance use, Emotional support and Acceptance were predictors of positive superstitions. Athletes may activate different types of superstitious beliefs to cope and gain control in situations of uncertainty. Key Words: Ghana, coping mechanism, personal control, primary control, secondary control, and positive and negative superstitious beliefs.
The Psychological Benefits of Superstitious Rituals in Top Sport: A Study Among Top Sportspersons
Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 2006
The current research addresses the psychological benefits of superstitious rituals in top sport, examining the circumstances under which top-class sportspersons are especially committed to enacting rituals prior to a game (ritual commitment). Consistent with the hypotheses, findings revealed that ritual commitment is greater when (a) uncertainty is high rather than low; and (b) importance of the game is high rather than low. Complementary analyses revealed that the state of psychological tension mediated both effect of importance and uncertainty on ritual commitment. Moreover, players with an external locus of control exhibited greater levels of ritual commitment than did players with an internal locus of control. The results are discussed in terms of the tension-regulation function of superstitious rituals in top sport. Some football players want to enter the field first, others want to enter the field last, whereas still others want to touch the grass just upon entering the field. And yet some players want to wear the same shirt, the same clothes, or even the same underwear for a long series of matches. It is not difficult to list more examples of what may be termed superstitious rituals. In fact, most sportspersons seem to be at least somewhat superstitious, especially those who are performing at the top. Why is it that seemingly sane sportspersons sometimes act in rather unusual ways before a match? Do they need to engage in such acts in every match? Does it also depend on the team for which they are playing? And does it matter whether the stakes are high or low? The present research 1 The authors thank Edwin Lieben and Kees van den Bos for their helpful comments on an
Predictors of superstitious beliefs
Journal of Psychology in Africa, 2016
This study investigated whether relationships exist among, personal control, coping mechanism, primary control, secondary control and superstitious beliefs. The participants were 375 Ghanaian student athletes (females =44%). They completed measures of self-reported superstitious beliefs, personal control, coping mechanisms, primary and secondary control strategies. The data were analyzed to evaluate the correlates of both positive and negative superstitious beliefs and how constructs of personal control, coping mechanisms and control strategies, predict positive and negative superstitious beliefs. The results indicated that personal control, coping mechanisms and control strategies were predictors of negative and positive superstitious beliefs. In the final model Exaggerated internal control, God-mediated control, emotional support, and substance use were predictors of negative superstitions. Exaggerated internal control, Substance use, Emotional support and Acceptance were predictors of positive superstitions. Athletes may activate different types of superstitious beliefs to cope and gain control in situations of uncertainty.
Construction and behavioral validation of superstition scale
Psihologija, 2009
The main goal of this study was to create an instrument for assessing tendency towards superstition-related beliefs and behavior and validate it in real life situations. Superstition was considered and analyzed as an attitude toward specific objects of the superstition. In the first part of the study, a sample of superstitious beliefs and behaviors was collected, after which the former list was reduced to 44 descriptions, based on the average familiarity. A preliminary version of the instrument was administered to 266 participants. The factor analysis suggested a presence of one main factor and three highly correlated sub-factors. In the last part of the study, in order to validate the instrument through behavioral variables, the final version of the instrument was administered to a different sample and subjects were put in two situations that challenged their potential superstitious behavior (passing below or going around a ladder in a computer laboratory; forward a chain e-mail for good luck). Group of participants that exhibited at least one superstitious behavior and the group of participants that did not, differed significantly in the average superstition score.
This study examined the effects of personality and situational differences on superstition behaviours in sports at three non-professional competition levels. The participants were 219 athletes (169 males, 50 females). We measured superstition by the number and kind of superstitious rituals (SRs), degree of superstitious feeling, and ritual commitment (RC). We used a within-group design that involved manipulating competition importance and uncertainty using scenarios to examine changes in pre-game psychological tension and RC. We found that sport superstition is positively correlated with athletic identity and pre-game psychological tension. Level of competition affects RC. RC is greater when the uncertainty and importance of the game are greater. Moreover, within-variable mediation analysis revealed that state of psychological tension mediated the effect of both uncertainty and importance on RC. Collectively, the results of the present investigation offer empirical support for Neil’...
International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 2016
This study examined the relationships between primary and secondary control strategies, coping,and superstitious behavior. Participants were 349 studentathletes from the United Kingdom and Ghana, consisting of 194 males and 155 females. The nationality breakdown was 177 British student athletes and 172 Ghanaian student athletes. Participants completed five inventories measuring superstitious behaviors, personal control,control strategies, coping skills, and social desirability. Sequential multiple regression analysis was used to determine the relationship between these constructs.A 2 by 2 analysis of covariance was conducted to assess the main and interactive effects of gender and nationality on superstitious behavior. Findings demonstrated that personal control, coping mechanisms, and control strategies predicted superstitious behavior. The findings suggest that athletes may engage insuperstitious behavior as a coping mechanism and as a secondary control strategy to offer them a sense of being in control in stressful situations. Theresults suggest that Ghanaian student athletesmayengage in superstitious behaviormore than British student athletes.Results are discussed in relation to previous research and practical implications are delineated.