SPORTSPERSONSHIP ORIENTATION AND EMPATHIC DISPOSITIONS OF PROFESSIONAL SOCCER PLAYERS

The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between sportpersonship orientation and empathic dispositions of professional soccer players. 130 soccer players randomly chosen by 7 soccer teams in the Turkcell Super League, 2007-2008 season constituted the research group. The Interpersonal Reactivity Index: IRI and the Multidimensional Sportspersonship Orientations Scale: MSOS were employed to gather the data. According to the results, “respect for one’s full commitment” [F2,130= 12.551; p .05], “respect for social convention” [F2,130= 19.704; p .05], and “respect for rules and officials” [F2,130= 5,761; p .05] increase significantly as the level of “empathic concern” increases. Likewise, the level of “respect for social convention” increases [F2,130= 4.785; p .05] in accordance with the increase of perspective taking skills. The findings gathered indicate that empathy which has a positive impact on moral behaviors in sports is a skill that athletes need to acquire. It is highly believed that empathy training to be designed in accordance with sports environment is considered to develop emphatic skills of athletes. Empathy training, which needs to begin specifically at an early age, occupies a key place in developing athletes’ moral perspectives.