Social Identity

Regardless of their age, humans exhibit a desire for group membership and affiliation. This attraction to inclusion can be observed through the many affiliations most humans display such as families, organizations, teams, etc. Individuals derive an extensive amount of support and various benefits from group membership. One such benefit involves the impact of membership in a group on an individual's identity. This is known as someone's social identity. Social identity has been defined as “the part of an individual’s self-concept which derives from his [or her] knowledge of his [or her] membership of a social group (or groups) together with the value and emotional significance attached to that membership”. This concept of social identity is closely intertwined with some of the reasons why individuals play football. Fans of the game of football, and sports in general, maintain that sports are a key aspect of the social development of youth. A less researched aspect of football is the ability to create strong social ties and camaraderie within its participants. When an individual is a member of a team they are making an agreement with the other members of the team to work together for the greater good. Through this collaboration with others and success of team goals, an individual's mental health becomes dependent on this interaction and yearns for it. Upon the completion of their athletic career, elite athletes from a variety of sports show an increased risk of distress, poor sleep, anxiety/depression, and alcohol misuse when compared to the general public. Athletes long to maintain these rich bonds formed because it leads to a positive effect on the athletes social identity. This positive effect on the social identity serves to support individual feelings of self-worth, commitment, and effort. Now I agree it is fair to say that there are many external and internal stressors affecting an athlete throughout their career that could lead to an increase in emotional trauma when their career is over. However, when looking at it through the scope of Roy Hampton the impact on his social identity and mental health is apt. Being a member of the football team was very central to his self-concept. It is fair to judge that he took immense pride in being an extraordinary football player and leader. He believed his role on the team was tied to his self-worth. When the unfortunate events transpired at the Riverwalk and led to Hamptons dismissal from the team,ending his football career, the foundation with which he stood upon was pulled out from underneath him. Football centered Roy and gave him an avenue to shine. Regardless of his culpability for the transgressions, being barred from competing in the most important game of his playing career is a heavy burden to impose on a young man. This incredible burden weighed on Hampton for the rest of his life.