DIFFERENCES IN EMOTIONAL RESPONSIVITY AND ANGER IN ATHLETES AND NONATHLETES - STARTLE REFLEX MODULATION AND ATTRIBUTIONAL RESPONSE

Studies of sport participation that include emotional responses, parti cularly anger, are frequently flawed because measures consist of assoc iative paper-pencil inventories and archival data. In the present stud y, startle response (an aversive reflex) was enhanced during an unplea sant emotional state and diminished in a pleasant emotional context. N onsignificant differences on this dispositional measure between 36 ath letes and nonathletes did not replicate findings differing normals and psychopaths (Patrick, Bradley, and Lang, 1993) on emotional responsiv ity. Similarity was also apparent in experiential aspects of anger res ponsivity as revealed by the check for differences in attributional st yle. No significant intergroup differences were found in participants' responses to realistic situations (termed vignettes), in evaluation o f the anger/provocation inherent in the situation, in the reasons attr ibuted to the ''frustrater,'' or in self-reported intended response. I mplications for future sport research on emotional responsivity, anger and aggressive behavior are discussed.