The NFL is a violent game, played by oversized men aimed at hitting and physically dominating one another. But does it predispose individuals to violence off the field? The recent murder/suicide by a Kansas City linebacker has brought this question back to the forefront. Does this lifestyle make young men violent?
All of us have aggressive drives with the potential for violence. In a rational adult, this is truly the last resort used to defend yourself. If you didn’t have this drive, you could not have appropriate assertiveness, necessary for daily living. But what if you grew up in a family or culture where violence was routinely used to solve conflicts? Most adults who commit violent crimes have this history. Drugs and alcohol are almost always the catalyst at the flash point. If you look at the players involved in these incidents, they all have this past. Rational adults don’t injure or kill each other to resolve conflicts.
The NFL in composed of young men of a variety of backgrounds. This age has increased alcohol and drug consumption and increased assaults. The best predictor of violence is passed violence (which the linebacker had). He would have likely done this if he had another job!
I’ve known many athletes, including pro football players through the years, and can attest they are just regular people. Your childhood and substance use patterns predict adult violence. We watch the sport because they do what we cannot and often project our aggressive nature on to them. Murder/suicide is a serious forensic study, but cannot be clouded by our own biases. Perhaps this incident will help heighten public awareness of this tragic public issue.
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