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Moral behavior

It refers to actions that have consequences for the well-being of others. Prosocial behaviors are morally relevant behaviors that positively affect the well-being of others. Among them is help and cooperation. In sports and physical activity in general, the above behaviors include sharing equipment on the playground, inviting others to play, or helping an injured opponent. In contrast, antisocial behaviors negatively affect the well-being of others and are intended to harm or make others feel bad. Teasing about performing in a physical education class, committing a blatant foul during a match, or excluding certain children from a game are examples of antisocial behavior.

Moral reasoning

It refers to the cognitive processes that individuals use when thinking about moral dilemmas. Understanding the variations on moral reasoning helps to explain why individuals can behave in a certain way. For example, two basketball players have been fouled each by an opponent and have to decide whether to retaliate. One decides not to do it and the other decides not to take revenge because he thinks it is wrong to hurt another player. They both chose the same behavior (they did not reciprocate) but for different reasons. Therefore, when we study moral development, it is important to understand how one behaves (moral behavior) as well as why one behaves in this way (moral reasoning).

Character

The terms character and moral development have often been used interchangeably, but have different meanings. Moral development refers to psychological and behavioral processes such as moral reasoning and socially beneficial behavior. Instead, character refers to the virtues and qualities that individuals possess, such as honesty, responsibility, and compassion. A person must have three characteristics to display moral character: (a) desire or motivation to do what is morally good, (b) willpower to control selfish desires, and (c) integrity to pursue moral commitments. A person with “character” acts consistently according to his/her virtues, regardless of criminal ties or rewards. In sports, a person shows character by being honest and following the rules even when no one is watching and showing compassion for teammates and opponents even when losing.

Sportsmanship and fair play

In sports, the above terms are used to describe moral attitudes and behaviors. Sportsmanship refers to social rules and conventions associated with participating in sports, such as shaking hands after a match or congratulating an opponent on a good performance. These behaviors help maintain order during the game and reflect the “spirit of the game”. Sportsmanship occurs when participants respect rules and opponents, wait their turn, maintain self-control. Conversely, misbehavior in sports involves cheating to gain an advantage, losing one’s temper after a mistake, mocking a less capable teammate, or deliberately engaging in actions that could injure an opponent. Finally, fair play is related to attitudes and behaviors associated with sportmanship. Source: “Human Motor Development” -A Lifespan approach (Greg Payne, Larry Isaacs) Recent Articles