Scheduled for Research Consortium Psychology and Sociocultural Poster Session, Friday, April 15, 2005, 8:45 AM - 10:15 AM, Convention Center: Exhibit Hall Poster Area I


Personal Predictors of Spectator Aggression at Little League Baseball Games (Sociocultural)

Stephen E. Schwartz, Buffalo State College, Williamsville, NY and Dwight A. Hennessy, Buffalo State College, Buffalo, NY

Parents of youth athletes from two separate baseball leagues in Western New York completed a questionnaire battery regarding their self-reported likelihood of engaging in various aggressive behaviors (yelling, swearing, shoving, fighting, and humiliating) towards a number of potential targets at youth baseball games (other spectators, umpires, opposing coaches, their child’s coach, opposing players, their child’s team mates, and their child). Given that both leagues employ a “zero tolerance” policy toward spectator aggression, any response greater than “zero” would represent at least some likelihood of engaging in aggression. Yelling at others was the most prevalent form of aggression, with upwards to 1 in 4 reporting that they could potentially yell at another in this environment. While much less prominent, some also reported they might humiliate spectators, umpires, or coaches. Very few reported any likelihood of physical aggression toward any target. Overall, the likelihood of all forms of aggression was very low, which substantiates the notion that most spectators of youth sporting events are not perpetrators of aggression. However, the present study confirmed that individual characteristics can increase the likelihood of certain forms of spectator aggression at youth sporting event. In order to find potential predictors of yelling at and humiliating the various targets of aggression, a series of hierarchical entry stepwise regressions were calculated using demographics, trait aggression, vengeance, aspirations, and child’s performance ratings as predictors. No regressions were run for swearing, shoving, or fighting due to their extremely low base rate. It was found that parents with greater hostility reported a greater likelihood of humiliating a child’s team mate while those with elevated trait anger reported a greater likelihood of yelling at other spectators during their child’s game. Finally, parents with a more vengeful attitude reported a greater likelihood of yelling at their child’s team mate and humiliating umpires. Implications for parents and youth programs are discussed.


Keyword(s): research, violence/prevention, youth sports

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