DIFFERENCES IN EMOTIONAL RESPONSIVITY AND ANGER IN ATHLETES AND NONATHLETES - STARTLE REFLEX MODULATION AND ATTRIBUTIONAL RESPONSE

Studies of sport participation that include emotional responses, particularly anger, are frequently flawed because measures consist of associative paper-pencil inventories and archival data. In the present study, startle response (an aversive reflex) was enhanced during an unpleasant emotional state and diminished in a pleasant emotional context. Nonsignificant differences on this dispositional measure between 36 athletes and nonathletes did not replicate findings differing normals and psychopaths (Patrick, Bradley, and Lang, 1993) on emotional responsivity. Similarity was also apparent in experiential aspects of anger responsivity as revealed by the check for differences in attributional style. No significant intergroup differences were found in participants' responses to realistic situations (termed vignettes), in evaluation of the anger/provocation inherent in the situation, in the reasons attributed to the ''frustrater,'' or in self-reported intended response. Implications for future sport research on emotional responsivity, anger and aggressive behavior are discussed.