AFL players’ social networks influenced by masculine attitudes: study

Media Release, Friday 30 September 2005

Attitudes of AFL players towards women can influence how players socialise with each other after hours, according to a new University of Melbourne study, but the effects on player social networks differ because of distinctive social and cultural norms within different clubs.

The research, led by the School of Behavioural Science’s Dr Garry Robins and funded by the AFL, used surveys of players, coaches and staff from four Melbourne-based AFL clubs to ascertain opinions about appropriate gender behaviours, some personal information, and social relations between club members.

Modern social network analysis techniques, developed by Dr Robins and his colleagues, were applied to the results.

Findings also showed that AFL players involved in activities outside football – in particular study – are more likely to have more positive attitudes towards women and be open to other social norms and standards.

“What we found as a result of this research is that the old saying ‘boys will be boys’ is too simple and does not apply,” Dr Robins said.

“While, on average, AFL players’ masculine attitudes are not significantly different to other samples of males, including senior secondary school boys, there is a wide range of attitudes found amongst players.

“This extends from dominative masculine attitudes where manliness is measured by sexual success, to completely non-dominative attitudes.”

One of the aims of this work was to determine factors that influence the socialising of players after club hours.

The project found that there are five factors – AFL experience, playing ability, masculine attitudes, the formation of social cliques/small groupings, and mutual social relations – that are important in determining who players choose to socialise with after hours.

In some clubs, players with dominative attitudes towards women are popular in after-hours social networks regardless of playing experience.

The research shows that players tend to socialise with players of similar playing experience. But the best players, although popular and influential figures, were not always well integrated into the after hours network.

“The influence of experienced and skilful players with less dominative attitudes towards women can be important in moderating behaviour during after-hours activities. The best players in clubs tend to be admired, popular and seen as influential by other players,” Dr Robins said.

“One issue in many of the club social set-ups, however, is that these experienced and skilful players sometimes have a lower integration in the after-hours network, so their influence may not always be available at moments of risk.”

The study found no differences in attitudes towards women based on player age, marital status, socio-economic status, or cultural background.

Dr Robins also said that a “one-size-fits-all” education or intervention program is not necessarily the complete answer to addressing AFL players’ masculine attitudes and relationship to women.

“This project shows that, overall, there is no significant difference between clubs on masculine attitudes towards women held by players. But it also suggests that each club has distinctive cultural and social norms among the players about masculine attitudes, and they affect the social environment,” he said.

Dr Robins also noted that this research found a difference between many players’ perceptions of masculine attitudes in their club, especially if a player’s masculine attitude is dominative.

“Although masculine attitudes are important to club culture, they are not always openly addressed in clubs and among players.”


More information:
Dr Garry Robins
Department of Psychology
University of Melbourne
Tel: 8344 4454
Mob: 0407 057234
Email: garrylr@unimelb.edu.au

For more information about this article, or a copy of the research report:
Matt Johnston
Media Officer
University of Melbourne
Tel: 03 8344 0561
Mob: 0437 367 490
Email: matthewj@unimelb.edu.au