Effects of a Combative Sport upon Personality Dynamics as Measured by a Projective Test

Abstract

Abstract In this exploratory study, eight college wrestlers were tested with the House-Tree-Person test of personality under three conditions: (1) before a wrestling season; (2) 4 to 5 hours before the first intercollegiate match of the season; and (3) the morning after the competition. Test interpretation revealed several group tendencies from condition to condition, outstanding among which were: decrement of functioning intelligence, increased aggressive feelings, and increased neurotic signs in the before match condition; and a return to approximately the status of condition I except for considerably less aggressive feelings in condition III.