2006 Volume 51 Issue 2 Pages 125-138
A study was conducted to identify the most important factors involved in the way that athletes overcome troubles common among athletes. Most previous studies have tended to examine this problem from the viewpoint of the subjective socialization theory. However, this theory has limitations for investigating this issue. We therefore examined this problem using a different approach. We studied the “life histories” of two members of a yacht racing team trying to qualify for the America's Cup race, on the basis of data recorded during interviews. This study focused on how they overcame their troubles by means of transfer. One of the subjects had experienced troubles regarding the limits of his competitive ability as a soccer player when he was a university student, before he became a yacht racer. The other subject had experienced serious occupational troubles after getting a job, due to insufficient preparation for performing the job. Both individuals overcame their troubles by means of transfer. The main findings of this study were that both subjects overcame their troubles by chance. That is, the most important factors determining whether they were able to succeed were based on information regarding transfer obtained by chance from acquaintances, and this information had raised their hopes and prompted them to change their jobs (activities). In other words, this information allowed them to exercise their subjectivity (autonomy) to overcome their troubles. This method of conflict resolution contrasts sharply with the methods reported in previous studies, in which athletes tended to use their subjectivity to overcome their troubles by obtaining emotional support from “significant others” (i.e. family, coaches or teammates). On the other hand, the two study cases were able to use their own subjectivity to overcome their troubles through the aid and support of others. This method of resolution was the same as that reported in previous studies. Our findings suggest that athletes overcome their troubles in various ways, and that help and advice from other individuals, including family, coaches and even casual acquaintances, can play a very important role in such problem-solving.
