Why adolescent boys dream of becoming professional athletes

A review of studies which investigated drawings of the ideal man and the oc cupational aspirations of boys (ages 11-18 years) from several countries in dicated that becoming a professional athlete was a popular bur unrealistic aspiration for many adolescent boys. Boys a ho were athletes and nonathlete s from diverse ethnic groups and nationalities dreamed of becoming professi onal athletes. In two additional studies in the: United States of America, adolescents were asked why they thought boys most often selected profession al athlete as a possible future occupation. Adolescents perceived professio nal athletes as rich, famous, and glorified. Enhancement of status and fina ncial gain mere ranked as more important than the desire to play sports.