PercephralandMotorSkiIIs, 1990, 70, 959-962. O Perceptual and Motor Skills 1990
SENSATION SEEKING AND SELF-REPORTED CRIMINALITY AMONG STUDENT-ATHLETES' THOMAS J.
YOUNG
Washburn University Summary.-The present study was conducted to assess whether student-athletes self-report more criminal activities than other students and whether there is a relation between sensation seeking and criminal behavior. In comparison to the control sample of 38, 34 student-athletes scored significantly higher on Zuckerman's Sensation Seeking Scale, Form V, and on a modified version of Canter's Self-report Deviance Checklist. Sensation seeking was not related to self-reported criminality among the control group, but among student-athletes moderately high correlations were found. These findings might suggest another dimension of the theory of sensation seeking among athletes.
Previous researchers have reported relationships between sensation seeking and participation in sporting activities (Fowler, von Knorring, & Oreland, 1980; Hymbaugh & Garrett, 1974; Zuckerman, 1979, 1983). More recently, Rowland, Franken, and Harrison (1986) provided data suggesting that the tendency for high sensation seekers to become engaged in high-risk sporting activities results from both the need for new experiences and an attraction to high risk. These scholars suggested that, "if high sensation seekers are motivated by the need for new activities and are susceptible to boredom, they would soon exhaust popular and readily available activities and be forced to turn to activities that are less popular, less available, and more risky" (p. 213). Given this premise, it may follow that another dimension to sensation seeking- is participation in criminal activities. In other words, if athletes follow a course of sensation seeking that leads to less popular and more risky activities, they may be more likely to report involvement in criminal behavior. The present study was conducted to ascertain whether student-athletes self-report more criminal activities than other students, and if there is a correlation between sensation seeking and self-reported criminal behavior. -
METHOD A nonrandom sample of 34 student-athletes and a control sample of 38 students in a junior level psychology course at a doctoral granting state university in the midwest completed Zuckerman's (1979) Sensation Seeking Scale, Form V, and a modified version of Canter's (1983) Self-report Deviance Checklist. Zuckerman's Sensation Scale has 10 thrill and adventure 'Address correspondence to T. J. Young, Criminal Justice Department, Washburn University, Topeka, KS 66621.
960
T. J . YOUNG
seeking items, 10 experience seeking items, 10 disinhibition items, and 10 boredom susceptibibty items. The four subscales are combined to make up the sensation seeking scale. The Self-report Deviance Checklist consists of 21 items, including crimes against persons, general theft, drug-related offenses, public disorder crimes, and illegal services. Estimates of the frequency of involvement for each behavior during the past year were obtained. Scores represent the summed frequencies across all items. Table 1 presents the number of athletic and control group subjects reporting deviance items for the past year. TABLE 1
NUMBEROF ATHLETICAND CONTROL GROUPSUBJECTS REPORTING DEVIANCEITEMSDURING PASTYEAR Deviance Items Crimes Against Persons Aggravated Assault Sexual Assault Hit Significant Other Robbery General Theft Stole Something, $5 Stole Something, $5-550 Stole Something, $50 Broke Into Buildinflehicle Motor Vehicle Theft Drug Related Offenses Used Hallucinogens Used Amphetamines Used Barbimrates Used Heroin Used Cocaine Drove While Intoxicated Public Disorder Crimes Disorderly Conduct Damaged Public Property Illegal Services Prostitution Sold Marijuana Sold Other Drugs Bought Stolen Goods
Athletes, n = 34
Controls,
n = 38
f
%
f
%
0 1 6 0
0.0 2.9 17.6 0.0
0 1 3 0
0.0 2.6 7.9 0.0
14 4 2 6 0
41.2 11.8 5.9 17.6 0.0
7
0
18.2 2.6 0.0 2.6 0.0
2 8 3 1 5 25
5.9 23.5 8.8 2.9 14.7 73.5
3 1 2 0 4 21
7.9 2.6 5.3 0.0 10.5 55.3
10 12
29.4 35.3
9
6
23.7 15.8
0 1
0.0 2.9 2.9 2.9
1 1
1 0
1
0 1
1 2
0.0 2.6 2.6 5.3
In the sample, 62% (n = 21) of the student-athletes were men, and 94% (n = 32) were 18 to 24 yr. of age. Furthermore, racial minorities accounted for only 15% (n = 5) of the student-athletes, and 76% (n = 26) reported a family income greater than $20,000. For the control sample, 50% (n = 19)
96 1
ATHLETES: SENSATION SEEKING/CRIMINALITY
were men, and 84% (n = 32) were 18 to 24 yr. Approximately 97% (n = 37) were white and nonHispanic, and 76% (n = 29) reported a family income in excess of $20,000. Students in the control sample reported no involvement in organized, collegiate sporting activities and did not describe themselves as "athletes."
RESULTS Table 2 indicates that the student-athletes scored significantly hlgher than the control sample on the sensation-seeking scale. Statistically significant differences were noted on a l l four subscales. That is, student-athletes TABLE 2 STANDARD DEVIATIONS FOR SENSATION SEEKING SELF-REPORTED DEUNCEYBY PEER GROUP
MEANSAND AND
Measures
M
SD
Controls, n = 38 M SD
6.73 4.88 4.62 5.79 22.02 5.71
2.77 2.70 2.61 2.33 4.00 6.25
4.13 3.71 3.45 4.00 15.29 3.03
Athletes, n = 34
Thrill and Adventure Seeking Experience Seeking Disinhibition Boredom Susceptibility Sensation Seeking Self-reported Deviance *p
SENSATION SEEKING AND SELF-REPORTED CRIMINALITY AMONG STUDENT-ATHLETES' THOMAS J.
YOUNG
Washburn University Summary.-The present study was conducted to assess whether student-athletes self-report more criminal activities than other students and whether there is a relation between sensation seeking and criminal behavior. In comparison to the control sample of 38, 34 student-athletes scored significantly higher on Zuckerman's Sensation Seeking Scale, Form V, and on a modified version of Canter's Self-report Deviance Checklist. Sensation seeking was not related to self-reported criminality among the control group, but among student-athletes moderately high correlations were found. These findings might suggest another dimension of the theory of sensation seeking among athletes.
Previous researchers have reported relationships between sensation seeking and participation in sporting activities (Fowler, von Knorring, & Oreland, 1980; Hymbaugh & Garrett, 1974; Zuckerman, 1979, 1983). More recently, Rowland, Franken, and Harrison (1986) provided data suggesting that the tendency for high sensation seekers to become engaged in high-risk sporting activities results from both the need for new experiences and an attraction to high risk. These scholars suggested that, "if high sensation seekers are motivated by the need for new activities and are susceptible to boredom, they would soon exhaust popular and readily available activities and be forced to turn to activities that are less popular, less available, and more risky" (p. 213). Given this premise, it may follow that another dimension to sensation seeking- is participation in criminal activities. In other words, if athletes follow a course of sensation seeking that leads to less popular and more risky activities, they may be more likely to report involvement in criminal behavior. The present study was conducted to ascertain whether student-athletes self-report more criminal activities than other students, and if there is a correlation between sensation seeking and self-reported criminal behavior. -
METHOD A nonrandom sample of 34 student-athletes and a control sample of 38 students in a junior level psychology course at a doctoral granting state university in the midwest completed Zuckerman's (1979) Sensation Seeking Scale, Form V, and a modified version of Canter's (1983) Self-report Deviance Checklist. Zuckerman's Sensation Scale has 10 thrill and adventure 'Address correspondence to T. J. Young, Criminal Justice Department, Washburn University, Topeka, KS 66621.
960
T. J . YOUNG
seeking items, 10 experience seeking items, 10 disinhibition items, and 10 boredom susceptibibty items. The four subscales are combined to make up the sensation seeking scale. The Self-report Deviance Checklist consists of 21 items, including crimes against persons, general theft, drug-related offenses, public disorder crimes, and illegal services. Estimates of the frequency of involvement for each behavior during the past year were obtained. Scores represent the summed frequencies across all items. Table 1 presents the number of athletic and control group subjects reporting deviance items for the past year. TABLE 1
NUMBEROF ATHLETICAND CONTROL GROUPSUBJECTS REPORTING DEVIANCEITEMSDURING PASTYEAR Deviance Items Crimes Against Persons Aggravated Assault Sexual Assault Hit Significant Other Robbery General Theft Stole Something, $5 Stole Something, $5-550 Stole Something, $50 Broke Into Buildinflehicle Motor Vehicle Theft Drug Related Offenses Used Hallucinogens Used Amphetamines Used Barbimrates Used Heroin Used Cocaine Drove While Intoxicated Public Disorder Crimes Disorderly Conduct Damaged Public Property Illegal Services Prostitution Sold Marijuana Sold Other Drugs Bought Stolen Goods
Athletes, n = 34
Controls,
n = 38
f
%
f
%
0 1 6 0
0.0 2.9 17.6 0.0
0 1 3 0
0.0 2.6 7.9 0.0
14 4 2 6 0
41.2 11.8 5.9 17.6 0.0
7
0
18.2 2.6 0.0 2.6 0.0
2 8 3 1 5 25
5.9 23.5 8.8 2.9 14.7 73.5
3 1 2 0 4 21
7.9 2.6 5.3 0.0 10.5 55.3
10 12
29.4 35.3
9
6
23.7 15.8
0 1
0.0 2.9 2.9 2.9
1 1
1 0
1
0 1
1 2
0.0 2.6 2.6 5.3
In the sample, 62% (n = 21) of the student-athletes were men, and 94% (n = 32) were 18 to 24 yr. of age. Furthermore, racial minorities accounted for only 15% (n = 5) of the student-athletes, and 76% (n = 26) reported a family income greater than $20,000. For the control sample, 50% (n = 19)
96 1
ATHLETES: SENSATION SEEKING/CRIMINALITY
were men, and 84% (n = 32) were 18 to 24 yr. Approximately 97% (n = 37) were white and nonHispanic, and 76% (n = 29) reported a family income in excess of $20,000. Students in the control sample reported no involvement in organized, collegiate sporting activities and did not describe themselves as "athletes."
RESULTS Table 2 indicates that the student-athletes scored significantly hlgher than the control sample on the sensation-seeking scale. Statistically significant differences were noted on a l l four subscales. That is, student-athletes TABLE 2 STANDARD DEVIATIONS FOR SENSATION SEEKING SELF-REPORTED DEUNCEYBY PEER GROUP
MEANSAND AND
Measures
M
SD
Controls, n = 38 M SD
6.73 4.88 4.62 5.79 22.02 5.71
2.77 2.70 2.61 2.33 4.00 6.25
4.13 3.71 3.45 4.00 15.29 3.03
Athletes, n = 34
Thrill and Adventure Seeking Experience Seeking Disinhibition Boredom Susceptibility Sensation Seeking Self-reported Deviance *p
