Background and Purpose
Sporting events have become powerful political tools for countries and governments to promote themselves, achieve political and economic goals, showcase local products, businesses, and culture, promote tourism, and improve their international image (Heslop et al., 2010). Consequently, various factors associated with sports play a significant role in shaping contemporary society, as the importance of physical exercise continues to grow, and its influence is increasingly recognized. There is no doubt that sports and various political forces have a reciprocal relationship.
Therefore, it is essential to understand the political dimensions of sports and the crucial roles and effects of these phenomena, which can be achieved through the development of political psychology. Neglecting the important field of political psychology in professional sports can hinder the promotion of favorable political behavior and lead to the underutilization of the country's professional sports potential. This, in turn, could be detrimental to securing the interests of professional sports on the international stage (Rafei Dehkordi et al., 2019).
One of the key areas in the study of political behavior is Political Psychology. Political psychology is an interdisciplinary field that combines psychological, social, and political sciences (Monroe, 2001). The beneficial roles of political psychology in improving both individual and societal conditions have led to its application in various domains (Rabin, 2021). It is a scientific field that examines political processes from a psychological perspective. At its core, political psychology examines the political thoughts and behaviors of individuals within political communities. Research in this field explores both individual-level political behavior (such as decision-making) and collective-level behavior (such as collective action). It also investigates processes of political participation, including public participation (such as public opinion) and political elites (such as leadership psychology), as well as formal processes (such as voting) and informal processes (such as social participation) (Hizli Sayar et al., 2020). Initially, psychology was regarded as the most individualistic field within the human sciences, focusing on the mental states of individuals in isolation from one another. However, over time, a connection between psychology and political science was established, and this relationship has evolved to the point where, for some, psychology is now seen as a largely collective discipline, heavily influenced by societal data and dynamics. Political psychology emerged as a field that needed to be studied anew, as it bridges the gap between psychology and political science. While the primary disciplines involved are psychology and political science, other fields have also contributed to its growth and the creation of relevant works. Political psychology can be described as a fruitful integration that offers valuable insights. It seeks to explain human behavior by applying psychological concepts, making it a powerful and appropriate tool for understanding political dynamics. As such, it proves to be a useful framework for analyzing political issues and challenges.
 Considering Iran's current situation and its portrayal in Western media as a country with goals and policies that conflict with the international community and global values, an emphasis on sports diplomacy can be a powerful tool for neutralizing this narrative. It should be strategically utilized to present Iranian culture and identity to the world in a positive and favorable light.  Therefore, by strengthening sports systems as an important social and political structure, we must work to establish new standards and criteria that address the current and future needs of the people. The social and political nature of sports requires us to differentiate between various branches of sports, while also recognizing the interconnectedness between sports and political and social sciences. In this context, political psychology plays a crucial role in enhancing the development of sports and creating a suitable political framework within the realm of sports.  However, the lack of comprehensive research and insufficient evidence in this area has led to the neglect of political psychology as a key issue in sports, particularly professional sports. The ambiguity surrounding the development and implementation of political psychology has resulted in its lack of serious application in professional sports today. This has hindered the full utilization of political psychology's potential in the sports sector. It is clear that there is a research gap in this area, contributing to scientific and practical uncertainties. Therefore, the aim of this research is to explore the dimensions and factors influencing the development of political psychology in sports in Iran.
 
Research Methodology
The present study is applied in terms of its purpose and descriptive-correlational in nature, conducted within this field. The statistical sample for the study is based on a sufficient number for modeling in PLS software, estimated to be 10 to 20 times the number of dimensions in the conceptual model. The sample consists of specialists and experts from various fields, including psychology, political science, sports management (directors of the General Directorate of Sports and Youth and sports organizations), sports stakeholders (Ministry of Sports, managers, coaches, athletes, and referees), as well as university professors and researchers active in the specialized area of political psychology in sports. A total of 375 individuals were estimated to participate in the study. The primary tool for this research was a researcher-developed questionnaire, created through two stages: a library study and interviews. Semi-structured exploratory interviews were conducted with experts in the field of professional political psychology in the country (9 individuals). The library study and interviews were used to identify components and variables, complete the theoretical framework, design the conceptual model, and develop the questionnaire. The research questionnaire included 25 dimensions and 125 items, with a Likert scale (five-point scale) used to measure the items. To assess the reliability of the questionnaire, Cronbach's alpha coefficients were calculated using SPSS version 24 software, resulting in a reliability of α = 0.91. The reliability and validity of the structure were further confirmed through the steps outlined in the findings section using Smart PLS software.
 
Research Findings
Structural Model:
Based on the results, it was determined that, in the context of developing the dimensions and factors of political psychology in professional sports, the "strategies" dimension has the greatest impact on the outcomes, with a value of (β = 0.761). "Causal conditions" have an impact on the main phenomenon with a value of (β = 0.313), while "background conditions" affect the main phenomenon with a value of (β = 0.760). The "main phenomenon" influences "strategies" with a value of (β = 0.519), and "intervening conditions" impact the main phenomenon with a value of (β = 0.449). These factors play a direct and significant role in explaining the dimensions and factors affecting the development of political psychology in sports in Iran. The path analysis also revealed that the "strategies" factors have a positive, direct, and significant effect on the outcomes of the development of political psychology in sports, explaining approximately 77% of the variance.  
Discussion
The purpose of this research was to investigate the dimensions and factors affecting the development of political psychology in sports. The results of the study revealed that all the identified dimensions and factors, including causal conditions, contextual conditions, intervening conditions, strategies, and consequences, have a significant impact on the development of political psychology in Iranian sports. Among these factors, strategies had the greatest impact on the outcomes, with a value of (β=0.761). Causal conditions had an effect on the main phenomenon with a value of (β=0.313), while background conditions influenced the main phenomenon with a value of (β=0.760). Additionally, strategies had a value of (β=0.519), and intervening conditions affected the main phenomenon with a value of (β=0.449). All these factors significantly contributed to the development pattern of political psychology in Iranian sports.
 The dimensions and factors affecting the development of the political psychology of sports in Iran include those that influence the occurrence of the central phenomenon. The influencing factors and causal conditions consist of four main concepts: moral-social skills, psychological skills, perceptive skills, political skills, and existing tensions. These findings align with the research of Keshavarz et al. (2017).  Keshavarz et al. (2017), in their research, showed that six social and cultural factors—managerial, communication, economic, professional, occupational, and political—play a significant role in influencing the behavior of stakeholders in occupying seats within international sports forums. Therefore, politics is an inherent part of organizational life. Those who fail to recognize the political dynamics within an organization may not fully understand that the organization functions as a political system. Therefore, organizations should be encouraged towards politicization, and managers should make the necessary efforts to achieve important organizational and psychological goals. Based on the findings of this research, it can be stated that moral-social skills and psychological skills form the foundational characteristics of personality and political behavior, such as trust, respect, justice, social awareness, responsibility, fairness, care, and citizenship. These characteristics help to build an internal moral compass, allowing individuals to make sound choices in sports political thinking and behavior, ultimately fostering greater social competence. Additionally, perceptive and political skills, such as the ability to network, plan and organize complex situations in advance, and the capacity to develop and solve solutions related to the political conditions of the sports environment, contribute to creating moral-political transparency, political dominance, and the absence of high-level politics. These skills help generate ideas and topics that are essential for navigating and shaping the political landscape of sports.  Fries et al. (2017) define political skill as an individual characteristic used to effectively describe political behavior in order to obtain or develop a defined structural power. According to their framework, power reflects influence, policies are strategies employed to create or gain power, and political skill provides a set of competencies to effectively utilize resources and implement political behavior. In explaining the results of this research, it can be highlighted that several factors influence the development of the political psychology of sports in Iran. These factors include moral-social skills, psychological skills, perceptive skills, political skills, and the existing tensions within the sports and political environments. Therefore, it can be said that political psychology is the ability to effectively understand others and the situations they are in, and to use such knowledge to influence others to act in ways that enhance individual or organizational goals. At the core of this concept is the use of others' behavior to shape outcomes, which is central to political behavior. In other words, the political use of others can be based on power or influence, which can result in either positive or negative outcomes. The four forms of using others are motivation, encouragement, moral obligation, and suppression. Among these, gentle encouragement is the least forceful, while suppression represents the most extreme form of control. Regarding political capacity, the concept of political skills is important. These skills are both inherent and acquired, meaning individuals can enhance their power and influence within an organization by improving their political skills, ultimately helping them achieve their desired goals.
Funding
This study received no funding from public, commercial, or nonprofit organizations.
Authors’ Contributions
Drafting the manuscript: Rahim Teymouri, Jafar Barghi Moghaddam; Search and data collection: Rahim Teymouri, Jafar Barghi Moghaddam, Habib Mohammadpour Yaghini, Mohammad Rahim Najafzadeh; Revision and edition of the manuscript: All Authors
Conflicts of Interest
The authors declared no conflict of interest.