Matches and mismatches between meta-motivational dominance and type of sport: A reversal theory approach

This research utilized reversal theory to examine sport preferences in explosive and endurance sports. For this purpose، The Telic Dominance Scale distributed between 166 athletes in endurance (cycling، rowing، swimming and endurance track and field) and explosive (basketball and gymnastic) fields. After checking the date’s normality using Kolmogorov-Smirnov test، dates analyzed with independent t-test statistical methods. The results indicated that there were significant difference among endurance and explosive sports in arousal-avoidance (t=16. 11) and serious-mindedness (t=9. 66). The study findings indicated that individuals’ selection for participation in explosive sports associated with paratelic lifestyle while individuals’ selection for participation in endurance sports associated with telic lifestyle. The study completely confirmed the reversal theory postulation.