African American Athletic Role Models

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African American athletic role models affect the young communities around them to a great extent. Some of the most influential of these athletes include Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and Shaquille O’Neal of the NBA; from the NFL, Adrian Peterson, Cam Newton and Russell Wilson are great examples amongst the many. These athletes influence the young adolescence of their communities in both negative and positive ways. To analyze this I will survey a young football team I am familiar with and the names of their favorite athletes. Then I will observe the potential impact said athlete could have on the individual though observation. The best way to see the impact is through a longitudinal study. We can analyze if the athletes’ actions correlate with …show more content…
A study conducted by Penelope Lockwood (2002) displayed the true effect of positive and negative role models. Lockwood conducted three different studies, each displaying the effect of role models in different circumstances. The studies showed how the first group, promotion-focused individuals, used a strategy of pursuing desired outcomes would find positive role models to be especially motivating; while the second group, prevention-focused individuals, used a strategy of avoiding undesired outcomes would find negative role models to be especially motivating. Lastly, the third group, which studied having role models who encourage strategies that are different from their own can un-motivate the individual. This disrupted the individual’s strategies without providing an alternative goal. In comparison to the topic, athletics can serve as the same type of motivation for children. The young athletic community is influenced by the actions of these athletes. An athlete who acts as a positive role model can motivate children to act as they do. While an athlete who acts as a negative role model can motivate children of things not to do. The problems occur when an athlete who is seen as a “positive role model” does a negative action. This leaves the child in a state of disarray and confusion about how to react to the situation. The person they look up to and idolize is not …show more content…
So many times growing up children will reenact a classic Michael Jordan buzzer beater (“3-2-1-Beep, for the win”, followed by the shot). Instead of having dreams of going to school and earning an honest living, they are more interesting in living the fast life. The fast life includes having aspirations of going directly to the league, while dismissing education, earning a living and other responsibilities. While this is not the trend for all children, children can solely have these dreams and no back up plans. Penelope Lockwood (1997) conducted another study showing the impact of role models on goals that the individual wanted to accomplish. The study found that “superstars” can sometimes be inspiring and self-enhancing, sometimes deflating and sometimes have no consequences at all for the self. ‘The impact of a said “superstar” or role model depends on the attainability of that role model.’ When a child picks an athletic role model whose success is probably unattainable, they work to accomplish their goals. Initially, their work ethic doubles and all their focus is put upon reaching the level of their idol. However, the child fails to equally focus on other aspects of life such as education. For example, Division I athletes who believe they have enough talent to get drafted focus most of their attention on their goal. Many of these athletes are getting a free education, but due to outside influences, do not
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