Sport Psychology Studies

Sport Psychology Studies

Examining the Cognitive Mechanisms Influencing the Justification of Unethical and Antisocial Behaviors in Sports Case Study: Doping in Sports

Document Type : Meta-analysis

Authors
Behnam Naghipour Givi 1
Abdollah Rasae rad 2
Morteza Zangeneh 3
Beheshteh Eghbali 4
1 Assistant Professor of Sport Management Sport Science Research Institute (SSRI), Tehran, Iran
2 . PhD student, Faculty Of Sport Sciences, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran
3 PHD Student in criminal law and criminology Qom university
4 Department of Physical Education, Farhangian University, Tehran, Iran
10.22089/spsyj.2025.17169.2510
Abstract
The aim of the current research was the application of cognitive mechanisms in Breaching the integrity of sports.This synthesis sought to combine and generalize studies related to cognitive processes effective in unethical and antisocial behaviors in athletes (especially doping). To achieve this goal, two electronic databases, Taylor and Francis and Science Direct, were selected as reference for the search strategy. To guide the system, to ensure the transparency and completeness of the reports, the P.R.I.S.M.A guidelines were used for systematic reviews and meta-analysis. After the adjustment and screening process of synthesis research, 31 documents were analyzed as samples. Thematic analysis of the scientific literature related to the breach of the integrity of sports governance identified 11 mechanisms of Moral disengagement. These mechanisms are divided into four general categories (1) behavioral mechanism "moral justification, emotional-psychological justification, social justification, economic justification, comparison, Euphemistic language ", (2) external agency mechanism " Displacement of responsibility, diffusion of responsibility", (3) The mechanism of adjustment of consequences and negative effects was categorized as "neglect, distortion, denial of consequences and reversal of causality" and (4) victim mechanism (dehumanization). This study will be very useful for researchers, sports management specialists who aim to understand the role of cognitive mechanisms in justifying unethical and antisocial behaviors in sports fields
Keywords
Sports integrity Moral disengagement
unethical and anti-social behavior
doping

Subjects

1.        Ayyildiz, E., Kayabeşler, H., Gülü, M., Yagin, F. H., Aldhahi, M. I., García-Grimau, E., & Al-Mhanna, S. B. (2023). Examining mindfulness and moral disengagement in doping: Perspective of Turkish wrestlers. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, 1142343. ‏
2.        Balk, L., Dopheide, M., Cruyff, M., Erik, D., & de Hon, O. (2023). Doping prevalence and attitudes towards doping in Dutch elite sports. Scientific Journal of Sport and Performance, 2(2), 132-143.‏
 https://doi.org/10.55860/BCUQ4622
3.        Bandura A. On structural evil: disengaging from our moral selves. A review of moral disengagement: How people do harm and live with themselves. Nueva York: Worth publishers.
4.        Barkoukis, V., Kaffe, S., Atkinson, A., Sumnall, H., Koskelo, J., Jussila, H. K., ... & Banyte, R. (2022). Fitness professionals’ perceptions of acceptability and usability of anti-doping education tools for recreational sports. Drugs: Education, Prevention and Policy, 29(6), 726-736.‏
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09687637.2021.1967293
5.        Barkoukis, V., Petrou, M., Lazuras, L., & Ourda, D. (2022). An empirical investigation of sport stakeholders’ beliefs about whistleblowing against doping behaviour. International journal of sport and exercise psychology, 20(4), 1068-1085.‏
6.        Davoren, A. K., Rulison, K., Milroy, J., Grist, P., Fedoruk, M., Lewis, L., & Wyrick, D. (2024). Doping Prevalence among US Elite Athletes Subject to Drug Testing under the World Anti-Doping Code. Sports Medicine-Open, 10(1), 57.‏
 https://doi.org/10.1186/s40798-024-00721-9
 
7.        Byrne, S., & Lee Ludvigsen, J. A. (2023). Sport mega-event governance and human rights: the ‘Ruggie Principles’, responsibility and directions. Leisure Studies, 42(2), 156-171.‏  10.1080/02614367.2022.2094998
8.        Chan, D. K. C., Tang, T. C., Gucciardi, D. F., Ntoumanis, N., Dimmock, J. A., Donovan, R. J., ... & Hagger, M. S. (2020). Psychological and behavioural factors of unintentional doping: A preliminary systematic review. International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 18(3), 273-295.‏ 10.1080/1612197X.2018.1450095
9.        Constandt, B., Parent, M. M., & Willem, A. (2020). Does it really matter? A study on soccer fans’ perceptions of ethical leadership and their role as “stakeowners”. Sport Management Review, 23(3), 374-386.‏
10.1016/j.smr.2019.04.003
10.     Demers, É., Lessard, G., Parent, S., & Paradis, H. (2023). Athlete victims of sexual violence: links to conformity to the sport ethic. European Journal for Sport and Society, 20(2), 101-117.‏
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/16138171.2021.2003056
11.     Feddersen, N. B., Morris, R., Littlewood, M. A., & Richardson, D. J. (2020). The emergence and perpetuation of a destructive culture in an elite sport in the United Kingdom. Sport in Society, 23(6), 1004-1022.‏
12.     Fida, R., Ghezzi, V., Paciello, M., Tramontano, C., Dentale, F., & Barbaranelli, C. (2022). The implicit component of moral disengagement: Applying the relational responding task to investigate its relationship with cheating behavior. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 48(1), 78-94.‏
Frias, F. J. L. (2022). Esports anti-doping advocates and their strange bedfellow: A matter of integrity and sport ethics.‏ https://doi.org/10.1016/j.peh.2021.100216  
13.     García-Grimau, E., De la Vega, R., De Arce, R., & Casado, A. (2021). Attitudes toward and susceptibility to doping in Spanish elite and national-standard track and field athletes: An examination of the Sport Drug Control Model. Frontiers in psychology, 12, 679001.
14.     Gleaves, J., Petróczi, A., Folkerts, D., De Hon, O., Macedo, E., Saugy, M., & Cruyff, M. (2021). Doping prevalence in competitive sport: evidence synthesis with “best practice” recommendations and reporting guidelines from the WADA Working Group on Doping Prevalence. Sports Medicine, 51(9), 1909-1934.‏
15.     Gray, S. J., & Porreca, R. (2024). Explaining elite athletes’ corruption behaviours: a comparative analysis of doping and match fixing. International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics, 16(1), 75-92.‏
16.     Harkin, S. (2023). Diffusion of responsibility: a clinical audit. Clinical Medicine, 23.‏
10.7861/clinmed.23-6-s109
17.     Haugen, K., & Solberg, H. A. (2024). Doping in elite sports: the athletes’ perspective. In Research Handbook on Major Sporting Events (pp. 635-646). Edward Elgar Publishing.‏
10.4337/9781800885653.00060
18.     Horcajo, J., Santos, D., Guyer, J. J., & Mateos, R. (2020). A meta-cognitive approach to doping in sports: The effects of thought validation on attitudes related to doping. Journal of Sports Sciences, 38(19), 2242-2252
19.     https://www.iranado.ir/.
20.     https://www.sportintegrity.gov.au/what-we-do/national-integrity-framework.
21.     Jowett, G. E., Stanger, N., Madigan, D. J., Patterson, L. B., & Backhouse, S. H. (2023). Perfectionism and doping willingness in athletes: The mediating role of moral disengagement. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 66, 102402.‏
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2023.102402
22.     Kegelaers, J., Wylleman, P., De Brandt, K., Van Rossem, N., & Rosier, N. (2018). Incentives and deterrents for drug-taking behaviour in elite sports: a holistic and developmental approach. European sport management quarterly, 18(1), 112-132.‏
23.     Kihl, L. A. (2019). Sport integrity systems: A proposed framework. In Routledge handbook of sport governance (pp. 395-409). Routledge.‏
24.     Kihl, L. A. (2023). Development of a national sport integrity system. Sport management review, 26(1), 24-47.‏
25.     Lazarus, S., Button, M., & Adogame, A. (2022). Advantageous comparison: using Twitter responses to understand similarities between cybercriminals (“Yahoo Boys”) and politicians (“Yahoo men”). Heliyon, 8(11).‏
26.     Leddy, J. J., Burma, J. S., Toomey, C. M., Hayden, A., Davis, G. A., Babl, F. E., ... & Schneider, K. J. (2023). Rest and exercise early after sport-related concussion: a systematic review and meta-analysis. British journal of sports medicine, 57(12), 762-770.‏
27.     Luo, A., & Bussey, K. (2023). Moral disengagement in youth: A meta-analytic review. Developmental Review, 70, 101101.‏
10.1016/j.dr.2023.101101
28.     Lv, R., Wang, Y., Zhang, C., & Ma, J. (2024). The role of anger rumination as a mediator in the relationship between driver moral disengagement and driving angry. Heliyon, 10(8).‏
10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e29112
29.     MacRae, S. A. (2023). A functional analysis of cheating and corruption in sports. Journal of the Philosophy of Sport, 50(1), 116-132.‏
30.     Martínez-Bacaicoa, J., Real-Brioso, N., Mateos-Pérez, E., & Gámez-Guadix, M. (2024). The role of gender and sexism in the moral disengagement mechanisms of technology-facilitated sexual violence. Computers in Human Behavior, 152, 108060.‏
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2023.108060
31.     Moriconi, M. (2024). What are they talking about? Dislocations between institutional narratives and on-field sports actors’ perspectives on match-fixing. Deviant Behavior, 45(3), 301-317.‏
32.     Moriconi, M., & De Cima, C. (2020). Betting practices among players in Portuguese championships: From cultural to illegal behaviours. Journal of gambling studies, 36(1), 161-181.‏
10.1007/s10899-019-09880-x
33.     Morrison, J. (2023). Lack of evidence that doping is harmful to the health of elite athletes. Performance Enhancement & Health, 11(1), 100245.‏
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.peh.2023.100245
34.     Naughton, M., Salmon, P. M., Kerherve, H. A., & McLean, S. (2024). Applying a systems thinking lens to anti-doping: A systematic review identifying the contributory factors to doping in sport. Journal of Sports Sciences, 1-15.‏
35.     Petróczi, A., Martinelli, L. A., Thrower, S. N., Veltmaat, A., Heyes, A., Barkoukis, V., ... & Zelli, A. (2024). Elite athletes’ values in action: an important yet complicated aspect in anti-doping education. International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 1-27.‏
10.1080/1612197X.2024.2337302
36.     Rasaeerad, A., Heydarinejad, S., & Khatibi, A. (2023). Systematic analysis of the fundamental propositions of good governance in sports. Research on Educational Sport, 11(32), 117-140.‏  (Persian)
10.22089/res.2023.14386.2346
37.     Read, D., Skinner, J., Smith, A. C., Lock, D., & Stanic, M. (2024). The challenges of harmonising anti-doping policy implementation. Sport Management Review, 27(3), 365-386.‏
10.22089/res.2023.14386.2346
38.      Shadmanfaat, S. M., Kabiri, S., Smith, H. P., Cochran, J. K., Andersen, T. S., & Madahi, J. (2023). Coaching and Doping: A Test of Situational Action Theory. Journal of Drug Issues, 00220426231179217.‏
10.1177/00220426231179217
39.     Stanger, N., & Backhouse, S. H. (2020). A multistudy cross-sectional and experimental examination into the interactive effects of moral identity and moral disengagement on doping. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 42(3), 185-200.‏
40.     https://www.wadaama.org/en/resources/world-anti-doping-code-and-international-standards/world-anti-doping-code
41.     Ulrich, R., Cléret, L., Comstock, R. D., Kanayama, G., Simon, P., & Pope Jr, H. G. (2023). Assessing the prevalence of doping among elite athletes: an analysis of results generated by the Single Sample Count Method versus the Unrelated Question Method. Sports Medicine-Open, 9(1), 112.‏
42.     Valenciano-Mendoza, E., Mora-Maltas, B., Mestre-Bach, G., Munguía, L., Richard, J., Derevensky, J. L., ... & Jiménez-Murcia, S. (2023). Clinical correlates of sports betting: A systematic review. Journal of Gambling Studies, 39(2), 579-624.‏
43.     Verschuuren, P. (2020). Whistleblowing determinants and the effectiveness of reporting channels in the international sports sector. Sport Management Review, 23(1), 142-154.‏
44.      Wagner, U., & Iversen, K. R. (2022). Is doping really a problem? How sponsors make sense of a sport with a dubious image. Qualitative research in sport, exercise and health, 14(7), 1082-1097.‏
45.     Walsh, D., & Downe, S. (2006). Appraising the quality of qualitative research. Midwifery, 22(2), 108-119.‏
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2005.05.004
46.     Zhang, S., & Boardley, I. (2023). The ‘selves’ in banned performance enhancement: Investigating narcissism and compassion in the context of doping. Performance Enhancement & Health, 11(1), 100243.‏
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.peh.2022.100243
Sport Psychology Studies
Volume 14, Issue 53
Summer 2025
Pages 60-81

  • Receive Date 07 September 2024
  • Revise Date 05 July 2025
  • Accept Date 09 July 2025