Motivational state and emotional tone in baseball: the reciprocity between reversal theory and field research

Differences in telic/paratelic metamotivational state and emotions caused by participation in a baseball game and the effect of game outcome were studied in 53 serious amateur, and 50 recreational adult baseball players. The Telic State Measure and the Tension and Effort Stress Inventory were administered pre- and post-game. Serious amateurs were significantly more telic than the recreational players pre-game. However, post-game, the recreational group had become significantly more telic and the serious amateurs significantly more paratelic. Compared to pre-game ratings, significantly higher post-game ratings for anger, humiliation, shame, resentment and guilt were obtained. For the recreational group, excitement and pride significantly increased pre- to post game. Losers in both groups experienced an increase in unpleasant emotions across the game. Polynomial regression analyses were used to examine the relationships between satisfaction with perceived performance and grouped or individual emotions post-game and a number of significant relationships were also found. © 2005 Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.