The effect of athletic expertise and trait emotional intelligence on decision-making |
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| Authors: | Robert Vaughan Sylvain Laborde Christopher McConville |
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| Institution: | 1. School of Psychological and Social Sciences, York St John University, York, UK;2. Department of Performance Psychology, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, Germany;3. Université de Caen Basse-Normandie, University of Caen, Caen, France;4. School of Psychology, University of Ulster, Ulster, UK |
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| Abstract: | The quality of decision and assessment of risk are key determinants of successful sport performance. Athletes differ fundamentally in their decision-making ability according to their athletic expertise level. Moreover, given the influence of emotions on decision-making, it is likely that a trait reflecting emotional functioning, trait emotional intelligence, may also influence decision-making. Therefore, the aim of this research was to investigate the respective contribution of athletic expertise and trait emotional intelligence to non-athletic decision-making. In total, 269 participants aged between 18 and 26 years with a range of athletic experience i.e. none (n?=?71), novice (n?=?54), amateur (n?=?55), elite (n?=?45) and super-elite (n?=?44), completed the Emotional Intelligence Scale and the Cambridge Gambling Task. Regression modelling indicated a significant positive relationship of athletic expertise and trait emotional intelligence with the quality of decision-making, and a negative relationship with deliberation time and risk-taking. Cognitive skills transfer may explain the higher decision-making scores associated with higher athletic expertise, while individuals with higher trait emotional intelligence may anticipate better the emotional consequences linked with a gambling task, which may help individuals make better decisions and take less risks. |
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| Keywords: | Trait emotional intelligence decision-making expertise elite athletes non-expert athletes |
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