Ethics To Excellence

Ethics To Excellence - Transcript

Ethics to Excellence
Pathway to True Competition Pathway
David Light Shields Ph D
Brenda Light Bredemeier Ph D
University of Missouri St Louis AAHPERD National Convention March 20 2010

Session Goal To introduce a mental map of true competition that maps a pathway to excellence ethics and enjoyment

Ethical Problems are Prevalent in Sports

What is their source

Realistic Conflict Theory

Competition
Conflicting Goals

Egocentric Reasoning

Hostility Anger Aggression Fear Cheating Distrust Yelling

Frustration

Emotion Behavior

Attributes Culture

Deception

Before I enter the ring I have to change I have to let the goodness out and bring all the bad in like Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

Larry Holmes on 60 Minutes

It s not just sports of course

Competition is Competition is
detrimental from a practical standpoint harmful from a psychological standpoint bad from an ethical standpoint

Competition by its very nature damages relationship Competition by its very nature damages relationship Competitors interests are inherently opposed I succeed if you fail and vice versa so the failure of others is devoutly to be wished
Alfie Kohn

Is Kohn Right Kohn
Hundreds of studies support Kohn s case against competition against
And yet we believe

Competition is innocent on all charges Competition on Kohn s prosecution is based on a case of Kohn s mistaken identity

What is competition

Traditional View Traditional View

Contest
mutually exclusive goal attainment



Competition
effort to advance opponents expense

The Environmental Determinist View

External External Structure

Contest

Assumption Result

Competition

The environment determines thought action
competition the contest

In fact some things that may look like competition aren t

Not all competition is the same
Com petere Com petere

petere comcom

to strive or or to seek to with

Competition to strive or seek with

A Constructivist View

External External Structure Meaning

Contest

Interpretation

Result

Competition

Not all contesting is competing

A Contest May or May NOT Lead to Competition
Why am I contesting What am I trying to achieve What does success mean

It depends on how the contest is interpreted

Is the contest a striving with

A Quick Detour into Cognitive Science Have you ever
Invested time in a worthy project Wasted your time Found ways to save time Spent time on something important Made time for someone

A Quick Detour into Cognitive Science Have you ever
Invested time in a worthy project Wasted your time Found ways to save time Spent time on something important Made time for someone
Culturally we tend to interpret time through use of a money metaphor

We often make sense of our experience through use of deep metaphors

People s preconscious metaphors for contesting influence their interpretations and behaviors interpretations

A Constructivist View

External External Structure Meaning

Contest

Interpretation

Metaphor

Result

Competition

A Constructivist View

External External Structure Meaning
Partnership

Contest

Metaphor

Result

Competition

Competition Competition




To strive with The contest is interpreted as a form of partnership What is being sought is an enjoyable quest for excellence

External External Structure Metaphor
Partnership

Contest

Battle War

Result

Competition

Decompetition

To call things by their right names is the beginning of wisdom Chinese Proverb

External External Structure Meaning
Partnership

Contest

Battle War

Result

Competition

Decompetition

Decompetition Decompetition
De reverse of





To strive against The contest is interpreted through a metaphor of battle or war What is being sought is the thrill of conquest and the extrinsic rewards of victory

Decompetition is a separate and distinct process from competition

It is not just bad competition nor is it equivalent to poor sportsmanship

External External Structure Meaning
Partnership

Contest

Battle War

Result

Competition

Decompetition
Opportunity to demonstrate superiority and gain the fruits of victory

Enjoyable quest for excellence

Competition promotes excellence ethics and enjoyment and

Decompetition leads to the negative outcomes so often found in social science research

Quick Review

Two Mental Maps Two Mental Maps
Competition
Deep Metaphor Goals Motivation View of Opponent View of Rules View of Officials Playing and Winning Emotional Tone Whose Interests are Served Ideal Contest Partnership Learning Mastery Pursuit of Personal Best Love of the Game Joy of Accomplishment Partner or Enabler Rules Imperfect Guides to Fairness Welfare Officials are Facilitators Focus is on Process contesting Positive Emotions Predominate Play Seriousness in Balance Mutual Interest The Common Good Story drama uncertainty Closely matched competitors
Striving With

Decompetition
Striving Against

Battle War

Two Mental Maps Two Mental Maps
Competition
Deep Metaphor Goals Motivation View of Opponent View of Rules View of Officials Playing and Winning Emotional Tone Whose Interests are Served Ideal Contest
Striving With

Decompetition
Striving Against

Partnership

Battle or War

Learning Mastery Pursuit of Personal Best Love of the Game Joy of Accomplishment Partner or Enabler Rules Imperfect Guides to Fairness Welfare Officials are Facilitators Focus is on Process contesting Positive Emotions Predominate Play Seriousness in Balance Mutual Interest The Common Good Story drama uncertainty Closely matched competitors

Domination Conquest Pursuit of Superiority Use of the Game Thrill at opponents expense Enemy Obstacle Rules Partially Tolerated Restraints Officials are Opponents Focus is on Outcome winning Negative Emotions Predominate Seriousness Displaces Play The Victor s Interest Individual Good Dominated Contest Certainty of Outcome

A More Subtle Instance of Decompetition

Chariots of Fire Chariots of Fire

1981

Setting Cambridge track star Harold Abrams competed against his rival Scottish missionary turned athlete Eric Liddell in the Olympic trials After losing the race Harold replays the defeat in his mind as his girlfriend tries to help him gain perspective

Chariots of Fire Chariots of Fire


1981

What is his understanding of competition What would you say to Harold



Building Champions
The The Ethics to Excellence Approach
Four Propositions 1 Competition is an ethic 2 Ethical violations in sport are preceded by a cognitive distortion of the meaning of competition 3 When the meaning of competition is distorted optimal performance becomes less likely and enjoyment decreases 4 True competition provides an ethical edge in performance

Competition is an Ethic Competition is an Ethic








Respects all participants and the sport itself Supports the common good of the sport community Fosters enjoyment that is not at the expense of others Reflects the moral principles of fairness and care Promotes excellence over ego

Recognizing the Threats
Mental Map of Deep Metaphor Goals Motivation View of Opponent View of Rules View of Officials Playing and Winning Emotional Tone Whose Interests are Served Ideal Contest Battle or War

What Triggers Decompetition What Triggers Decompetition

Decompetition

Potential Triggers

The Contest Structure

Domination Conquest Pursuit of Superiority Use of the Game Thrill at opponents expense Enemy Obstacle Rules Partially Tolerated Restraints Officials are Opponents Focus is on Outcome winning Negative Emotions Predominate Seriousness Displaces Play The Victor s Interest Individual Good Dominated Contest

Recognizing the Threats Mental Map of Recognizing the Threats
Deep Metaphor Goals Motivation View of Opponent View of Rules View of Officials Playing and Winning Emotional Tone Whose Interests are Served Ideal Contest Battle or War

What Triggers Decompetition What Triggers Decompetition

Decompetition

Potential Triggers
Personal insecurities Rigid gender roles Extrinsic rewards

The Contest Structure

Domination Conquest Pursuit of Superiority Use of the Game Thrill at opponents expense Enemy Obstacle Rules Partially Tolerated Restraints Officials are Opponents Focus is on Outcome winning Negative Emotions Predominate Seriousness Displaces Play The Victor s Interest Individual Good Dominated Contest

Disrespectful opponents Perceived bending of rules by opponents Perceived injustice External pressures to win e g from parents boosters High stress Perceived threat Immature moral reasoning Lopsided contests

How Might Decompetition Interfere with Optimal Performance

Building Champions
The The Ethics to Excellence Approach

Recognizing the Ethical Edge

The Legend of Bagger Vance 2000 The Legend of Bagger Vance
Scene

Rannulph Junah is on the comeback trail thanks to mysterious caddy Bagger Vance During the big match while brushing some twigs away from the ball the ball moves

The Legend of Bagger Vance 2000 The Legend of Bagger Vance

What Do You Think Is it in his interest to not call a stroke on himself

The Ethical Edge The Ethical Edge
Mental Map of

Deep Metaphor Goals Motivation View of Opponent View of Rules View of Officials Playing and Winning Emotional Tone Whose Interests are Served Ideal Contest

Partnership

Competition

Performance Advantages

Learning Mastery Pursuit of Personal Best Love of the Game Joy of Accomplishment Partner or Enabler Rules Imperfect Guides to Fairness Welfare Officials are Facilitators Focus is on Process contesting Positive Emotions Predominate Play Seriousness in Balance Mutual Interest The Common Good Story drama uncertainty Closely matched competitors

The Ethical Edge The Ethical Edge
Mental Map of

Deep Metaphor Goals Motivation View of Opponent View of Rules View of Officials Playing and Winning Emotional Tone Whose Interests are Served Ideal Contest

Partnership

Competition

Performance Advantages
Focus on learning encourages persistent effort Intrinsic motivation is more stable enduring and energizing Less likely to be distracted by negative views of opponents Less mental time wasted on looking for rule loopholes Fewer penalties Less distracted by poor calls easier to keep head in the game Allows the athlete to stay focused on what is within their control Positive emotions are easier to manage than negative emotions Reduces fear of loss or fear of success Close games are not interpreted as challenges to competency and so are less

Learning Mastery Pursuit of Personal Best Love of the Game Joy of Accomplishment Partner or Enabler Rules Imperfect Guides to Fairness Welfare Officials are Facilitators Focus is on Process contesting Positive Emotions Predominate Play Seriousness in Balance Mutual Interest The Common Good Story drama uncertainty Closely matched competitors

Building Champions
The The Ethics to Excellence Approach

The Triple Goal Approach to Coaching

The Ethical Edge The Ethical Edge
Mental Map of

Competition
Deep Metaphor Goals Motivation View of Opponent View of Rules View of Officials Playing and Winning Emotional Tone Whose Interests are Served Ideal Contest Partnership Learning Mastery Pursuit of Personal Best Love of the Game Joy of Accomplishment Partner or Enabler Rules Imperfect Guides to Fairness Welfare Officials are Facilitators Focus is on Process contesting Positive Emotions Predominate Play Seriousness in Balance Mutual Interest The Common Good Story drama uncertainty Closely matched competitors

COACHING GOALS


PROMOTE EXCELLENCE ENHANCE ENJOYMENT







DEVELOP CHARACTER

Three Goals Nine Strategies Three Goals Nine Strategies
COACHING GOAL


STRATEGIES 1 Talk about What Matters 2 Promote a Values Based Team 3 Practice Good Character 4 Support Intrinsic Motivation 5 Eliminate Fear of Failure 6 Encourage Enthusiasm 7 Focus Attention 8 Set Appropriate Goals 9 Support Foundations of Excellence

DEVELOP CHARACTER


ENHANCE ENJOYMENT

PROMOTE EXCELLENCE

De La Salle Football

What did you see

To promote true competition we need to teach it practice it and talk about how genuine competition differs from decompetition competition

For More Information
www truecompetition org www truecompetition org Email dshields truecompetition org Email dshields truecompetition org


Visit Visit



Phone 314 348 0955
Also David Shields Brenda Bredemeier University of Missouri St Louis