I think the trait of conscientiousness is vital to a competitor.
Conscientiousness
In psychology, conscientiousness is the trait of being painstaking and careful, or the quality of acting according to the dictates of one's conscience. It includes such elements as self-discipline, carefulness, thoroughness, organization, deliberation (the tendency to think carefully before acting), and need for achievement. It is an aspect of what was traditionally called character.
Conscientiousness is related to emotional intelligence and impulse control, but it should not be confused with the kind of impulsiveness found in neuroticism. People high on impulsiveness find it very difficult to resist temptation or delay gratification. Individuals who are low on self-discipline are unable to motivate themselves to perform a task that they would like to accomplish. These are conceptually similar but empirically distinct (Costa & McCrae, 1992).
Conscientious individuals are generally hard working and reliable. When taken to an extreme, they may also be workaholics, perfectionists, and compulsive in their behavior. People who are low on conscientiousness are not necessarily lazy or immoral, but they tend to be more laid back, less goal oriented, and less driven by success.
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2 comments:
From Uncle John
Hi Ben,
I tried to set up an account and respond to your blog but had some
difficulties. I liked the articles.
I had a thought regarding conscientiousness. A conscientious athlete also
has a healthy respect for fellow competitors.
Athletes who loose sight of this idea might win the game, race, etc, but
ultimately become isolated and lonely, despite their athletic success. The
means did not justify the end. Many of my students tell me they either
are really competitive or just play for fun. The conscientious athlete does
both at once. Ex Brett Farve
Ben, this two posts are a great start to your blog. You have some fascinating insights into the sport. Looking forward to reading much more of the same. Keep up the good work.
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