| Sports Psychology, Anger Management In Sports: | | | | punishment. Consequently, they have difficulty thinking |
| Why Do Some Athletes Snap? | | | | about the consequences of their actions. |
| Recently, I appeared on ABC's Good Morning America. | | | | Some athletes may suffer from one of several a |
| A producer asked me to comment on the the recent | | | | psychiatric illnesses like intermittent explosive, |
| violent act in the Ranger vs. Islander hockey game. | | | | oppositional defiant disorder, depression or narcissistic |
| I have written on violence in sports in the past and I | | | | personality disorder. People with these kinds of |
| have been interviewed by the British Broadcasting | | | | illnesses can have trouble controlling their rage and |
| Company on this subject. However, this most recent | | | | have difficulty being concerned about other people's |
| act caused me think a bit more about what causes | | | | feelings. Harming others may not bother them the way |
| this kind of vicious behavior and what can be done to | | | | it is apt to disturb most of us. Players with these kinds |
| prevent it from happening again. | | | | of conditions can be quite dangerous on and off the |
| I believe that some of the athletes who behave | | | | field. |
| violently are people who were raised in dysfunctional | | | | It is also important to remember that athletes are |
| families where they were exposed to violence, cruelty, | | | | human and a violent act on the playing field may be |
| substance abuse and chaos. These kinds of | | | | related to some frustration that they are experiencing |
| environments do little to foster the development of | | | | in another aspect of their life. A conflict with a wife or |
| qualities like kindness and empathy. | | | | lover can cause an athlete to have a bad day at "their |
| To make matters worse, some violent athletes are | | | | office" which is a court or a playing field. |
| currently abusing drugs, alcohol and/or steroids which | | | | Some athletes get fired up by crowds and the fans. |
| can intensify their internal rage. | | | | Like rock stars and entertainers, some sports stars |
| Some of the violence can be attributed to the fact | | | | thrive on the attention and the adoration they get from |
| that many athletes have failed to learn how to control | | | | large numbers of people. Top athletes may get caught |
| their emotions because they have devoted so much | | | | up the fans' enthusiasm and lose control of their |
| of their time to mastering their craft, which is their | | | | emotions and their behavior. |
| sport. In short, they are physically quite talented, but | | | | Leagues can help to minimize violence in sports by |
| they are emotional quite undeveloped and quite | | | | having clear and strict penalties for violent acts. I have |
| immature. | | | | helped many athletes to manage by teaching them |
| Many of the sports we love like football and hockey | | | | anger management technique, meditation, visualization |
| have a violent component to them, and athletes are, in | | | | and self-hypnosis. These kinds of programs should be |
| some instances, rewarded for being tough and very | | | | included in many organized sports programs. And it is |
| physical competitors. It is sometimes difficult to control | | | | probably a good idea to start this kind of training with |
| one's aggressiveness once some of it is allowed, | | | | young athletes while athletes are in their formative |
| appreciated and rewarded. | | | | years. |
| Top athletes are held in high regard in our society and | | | | Athletes who demonstrate a pattern of violent |
| sometimes get special treatment, special favors and | | | | behavior need to be evaluated and referred for the |
| special attention during their formative years. This | | | | appropriate kind of mental health counseling. Some |
| "special treatment" can give rise to a feeling of | | | | leagues may resist these kind of interventions, but I |
| grandiosity which can lead some athletes to feel as if | | | | believe these kinds of programs are essential if |
| they are "above the law" and not susceptible to | | | | violence in sport is to be minimized. |
