Footy's 'bad boys' - is it really their fault?

Rugby league players are again being pilloried after the latest headline-grabbing indiscretions. This time it is Newcastle Knights players in the spotlight after a drunken rampage through a University dormitory in Bathurst. But University of Wollongong Pyschology Lecturer MITCH BYRNE wonders if it is actually their fault.

Young athletes are in a difficult position. As celebrities, they are in the public eye and therefore find it difficult to "get away" with the kind of anti-social behaviour often exhibited with impunity by their same aged peers.

However the causes of the athletes' behaviour are often similar to the causes of bad behaviour in other young people, and are generally connected with too much alcohol.

Young athletes are increasingly being warned about the consequences of behaving poorly, and counselled about their responsibilities as role models and representatives of their sport. Yet the incidences of   anti-social behaviour continue seemingly unabated. Rugby league in particular regularly has its image tarnished by "incidents" involving young players, alcohol and allegations of sexual misconduct.

What does sports celebrity have to do with this behaviour? One possible answer is the "athletic personality".

Athletes tend to be more extroverted, assertive and self-confident than non athletes. It may be that engaging in sport promotes this disposition but it is more likely that people already of this disposition are attracted to sport. Therefore there is an over-representation of extroverted, assertive and self-confident people in sports.

These dispositions are evident early in life and are reinforced by coaches (and often parents) who value these qualities as contributing to sporting success. Young athletes are rewarded for exhibiting certain behaviours such as assertiveness and aggression on the sports field even if they may be problematic off the field.

This can become a double-edged sword in that the athlete develops an overdeveloped sense of self- worth related to sport, but often a lower self esteem in other areas of their life (such as interpersonal relationships).

Ultimately, for some, this can lead to the development of narcissistic tendencies. The narcissist holds a grandiose sense of self-importance, frequently superimposed on a fragile self-esteem. In fact some theories suggest that narcissism develops due to OVER-evaluation by others - hence the role of sports fans and coaches.

This over-developed self-importance is reinforced by the public and coaches as well as team mates. The narcissist needs this endorsement and seeks it out. This can include seeking accolades from peers on and off the field and shifting values to accommodate possible peer approval, including exhibiting sexually aggressive behaviour.

Importantly, narcissism is associated with a diminution of the value of the non-peer group. Others exist merely as objects to satisfy the narcissist's thirst for self-aggrandizement.

Narcissism is also related to psychopathy and machiavellianism, both of which permit the breaking of rules to achieve personal goals. And narcissists often see themselves as above the law.

It's not all their fault. The behaviour of others supports their indiscretions. Coaches often overlook early less severe transgressions so that the athlete learns that he can get away with it. The public, who want sports heroes, hold them in such high esteem that they are forgiven many indiscretions. It can be difficult to reconcile hero adulation with anti-social activities and easier to find mitigating factors for such behaviour (such as claiming female victims are sports groupies).

And in the case of footballers, the game reinforces aggressive and intimidating behaviours on the field. It is only a small step for the young man to see such behaviours as rewarding off the field.

We also need to recognise the unreality of their situation. Many have not had a normal paying job for any length of time but rather are paid significant salaries to play a "game". They therefore have limited experience in learning of the value of effort (except in a sporting context) and the needs and rights of others.

Alcohol also often plays a significant role. Alcohol removes inhibitions, so any of these predispositions are only likely to be more pronounced when the athlete is intoxicated.

So what can be done to help these young people overcome these challenges?

Athletes are often given support from sports psychologists to help them focus on their sporting goals. Why are they not also given support from community and clinical psychologists to help them focus on their responsibilities and personal development goals?

At the end of the day it is not the athlete's fault. Their environment is filled with rewards for the aggressive behaviour on field and few opportunities for coaching on how they should behave off the field - until something happens and then it is generally too late.

Mitch Byrne lectures in Pyschology at the University of Wollongong's Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences.