Influence of body language on penalty takers' performance

Abstract

Previous research on nonverbal behavior (NVB) in the sport performance setting (Furley, Moll, & Memmert, 2015; Greenlees, Leyland, Thelwell, & Filby, 2008) has shown that NVB might be among the most important factors influencing emotions and outcome expectations. However, research on NVB so far has neglected to conduct studies in non-experimental settings and to measure the behavioral consequences of NVB. Thus, following the call from Baumeister, Vohs, and Funder (2007), it was the aim of the present research to realize a field study (i.e., a real-world soccer penalty scenario) and to not only measure subjective questionnaire variables (i.e., outcome expectations) but also performance variables (i.e., precision and speed of the kicks) as consequences of NVB. Each of N = 47 male experienced soccer players took 20 penalties, alternating against one dominant and one submissive goalkeeper, manipulated using instructions from experimental studies. The reactions of the goalkeepers (left vs. right) were randomised and the NVB of the goalkeepers was changed after each participant. Before the shootout, participants filled in a questionnaire on outcome expectations when watching the goalkeepers. During the shootout, precision and speed of each kick was measured using GoPro Hero2-cameras. First results show that both goalkeepers were rated stronger when showing dominant NVB compared to submissive NVB. Further, the dominant goalkeeper was perceived stronger than the submissive one. However, the NVB of the goalkeepers did not significantly influence the outcome expectations of the penalty takers. Further analyses will show whether NVB influences objective performance measurements of precision and speed. Our results concerning subjective outcome variables do not confirm previous laboratory research on NVB as we could not find an effect of NVB on outcome expectations. This discrepancy between previous laboratory research and the results of this study show the importance of conducting field studies and of measuring real behavior.