Disclosure of Self through the Games We Choose To Play.

N

20

Athletes; Athletics; Games; Individual Characteristics; Personality; Personality Studies; Physical Characteristics; Play; Recreational Activities

Although there are exceptions to the rules, research has shown a relationship of certain body types to given sports. Recent research has also shown a correlation between body build and personality traits, and it appears that particular athletic activities attract certain types of individuals. For instance, two researchers in separate studies concluded that weight lifters were shy, lacked self-confidence, and were concerned about their appearance. Nonathletic games have also been studied, particularly chess and bridge. The two games are different in that chess is a logical and analytical game while bridge is psychological. This difference determines to some extent the type of persons who are likely to become experts at each of the games. The results of the Athletic Motivation Inventory, distributed to 15,000 athletes, show that those who survive the high attrition rate associated with athletic competition are characterized by a great need for achievement, orderliness, respect for authority, a large capacity for trust, and great psychological endurance. The implications of research into games and personality for talent scouts and professional gamesters are obvious, but the implications for the remainder of the population are not so clear. There is a need for more study of the games and pastimes of the majority of Americans who do not engage in competitive athletic activity. (HMD)

1975

ED100826