TALL POPPIES IN SPORT - ATTITUDES AND ASCRIBED PERSONALITY-TRAITS

Attitudes towards high-profile sport performers as well as their perce ived personality characteristics were examined. Some of these performe rs (Group A) had received publicity for being gay, being HIV positive, or using steroids, while others (Group B) had not been portrayed in t his way. Results indicated that attitudes towards the athletes in Grou p A were more negative than attitudes towards the athletes in Group B. Differences were also obtained with respect to ascribed personality t raits, with athletes in Group A viewed as less rule-oriented, less sel f-controlled, less honest, less trustworthy, and lower in integrity th an athletes in Group B. Findings are discussed in relation to values w ithin Australian society and the institution of sport, as well as psyc hological mechanisms such as halo effects, social comparison processes , and ''just world'' beliefs.