The Role of Narcissism in Sports Performance through Focus Group Interviews

The purpose of this study is to explore and analyze the meaning of narcissism experienced by elite sports players during their sports performances, thereby suggesting implications for improving the performance of elite sports players. To this end, focus group interviews were conducted with seven research participants who had been players for more than five years. As a result, first, the lives of elite sports players experienced by the research participants were those in which they strictly judged themselves through strict self-criticism and pursuit of a perfect self, and evaluated themselves by comparing themselves with others. Second, the perception and experience of narcissism were recognized as abnormal self-intoxication and a tendency to harm others through over-evaluation of themselves. Third, in sports performance, narcissism was said to provide perfect sports performance as a self-confident action force. However, it was concerned that excessive narcissism would lower self-development and have a negative impact on relationships with others. Fourth, the idea of utilizing narcissism in sports performance was expected to improve skills through mind control effects and bold performance ability, and the role of a leader who can moderate appropriate narcissism and the infinite possibilities of applying narcissism were mentioned. These results can be interpreted as athletes accepting narcissism positively, which provides a direction for utilizing narcissism to improve performance in sports performance.