Playing Sport as an Adaptive
Behaviour
• Research has been carried out to study the
actions of the players in a team.
• From an evolutionary point of view, it is
easy to see why men want to aspire in
these sports:
1) earn high wages
2) gain access to resources
3) status
4) women
Maxwell and Viscek
Maxwell and Viscek
Maxwell and Viscek (2009) Used 144 Union rugby players were questioned about their
use of aggression in the game. The researchers also took account of a number of other
factors including professionalism. Players high in professionalism placed more emphasis
on winning the game than on playing fair and displaying skill. The players most likely to
use unsanctioned aggression were those who scored high on professionalism.
Evolutionary theory supports the concept of cheating as adaptive. Teams who learn to
deploy illegal moves without getting caught will ultimately win and achieve status.
Quiz
1. How many rugby players were questioned
144
2. Why might playing sport be adadptive
High wages, status, resources, women
3. What is a critisicm of Maxwell & Viscek
Self- reported so may be subjective