Unveiling the Aftermath:

Analyzing Moral Reasoning in the Wake of the Michigan State and Larry Nassar Scandal

Authors

  • Katie M Brown Texas Tech University
  • Sarah M Brown Southern Methodist University
  • W. Eric Brown
  • Natasha T Brison
  • Andrew C Pickett

Keywords:

moral reasoning, social identity, scandals

Abstract

This study explores the reasons behind unwavering support for a team by sports fans, using Bandura's theory of moral disengagement. It specifically examines fan identity in the context of a major university scandal. Data was collected from 125 participants to gauge their response to the scandal and analyzed using regression methods. The study uncovers the differences in perceptions and coping strategies towards universities affected by major scandals and provides insights on how fan loyalty can mitigate the impact of such scandals on universities and their athletic organizations.

References

Abeza, G., O’Reilly, N., Prior, D., Huybers, T., & Mazanov, J. (2019). The impact of scandal on sport consumption: Do different scandal types have different levels of influence on different consumer segments? European Sport Management Quarterly, 20(2), 130–150. https://doi.org/10.1080/16184742.2019.1586974

Anderson, M. L. (2017). The benefits of college athletic success: An application of the propensity score design. Review of Economics and Statistics, 99(1), 119–134. https://doi.org/10.1162/rest_a_00589

Ashforth, B. E., & Mael, F. (1989). Social Identity Theory and the organization. Academy of Management Review, 14(1), 20–39. https://doi.org/10.5465/amr.1989.4278999

Bandura, A. (1986). Social Foundations of thought and action: A social cognitive theory. Prentice Hall.

Bhattacharjee, A., Berman, J. Z., & Reed, A. (2013). Tip of the hat, wag of the finger: How moral decoupling enables consumers to admire and admonish. Journal of Consumer Research, 39(6), 1167–1184. https://doi.org/10.1086/667786

Billings, A. C., Qiao, F., Conlin, L., & Nie, T. (2016). Permanently desiring the temporary? Snapchat, social media, and the shifting motivations of sports fans. Communication & Sport, 5(1), 10–26. https://doi.org/10.1177/2167479515588760

Boyle, B. A., & Magnusson, P. (2007). Social Identity and brand equity formation: A comparative study of collegiate sports fans. Journal of Sport Management, 21(4), 497– 520. https://doi.org/10.1123/jsm.21.4.497

Buhrmester, M., Kwang, T., & Gosling, S. (2011). Amazon’s mechanical turk: A new source of inexpensive, yet high-quality, data? PsycEXTRA Dataset. https://doi.org/10.1037/e527772014-223

Callejas, G. R. (2018). Evaluating Michigan State University’s best practices in implementing Title IX policies, procedures, and resources. Undergraduate Journal of Political Science, 3.

Chien, P. M., Kelly, S. J., & Weeks, C. S. (2016). Sport scandal and Sponsorship Decisions: Team Identification Matters. Journal of Sport Management, 30(5), 490– 505. https://doi.org/10.1123/jsm.2015-0327

Cohen, G. L., & Garcia, J. (2005). “I am us”: Negative stereotypes as collective threats. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 89(4), 566–582. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.89.4.566

Connor, J. M., & Mazanov, J. (2010). The inevitability of scandal: Lessons for sponsors and administrators. International Journal of Sports Marketing and Sponsorship, 11(3), 29–37. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijsms-11-03-2010-b004

Dietz-Uhler, B. (1999). Defensive reactions to group-relevant information. Group Processes & Intergroup Relations, 2(1), 17–29. https://doi.org/10.1177/1368430299021002

Ellemers, N., Spears, R., & Doosje, B. (2002). Self and social identity. Annual Review of Psychology, 53(1), 161–186. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.psych.53.100901.135228

Fink, J. S., Parker, H. M., Brett, M., & Higgins, J. (2009). Off-field behavior of athletes and team identification: Using social identity theory and balance theory to explain fan reactions. Journal of Sport Management, 23(2), 142–155. https://doi.org/10.1123/jsm.23.2.142

Fink, J. S., Trail, G. T., & Anderson, D. F. (2002). An examination of team identification: which motives are most salient to its existence? International Sports Journal, 6, 195.

Fisher, R. J., & Wakefield, K. (1998). Factors leading to group identification: A Field study of winners and losers. Psychology and Marketing, 15(1), 23–40. https://doi.org/10.1002/(sici)1520-6793(199801)15:1<23::aid-mar3>3.0.co;2-p

Gwinner, K., & Swanson, S. R. (2003). A model of fan identification: Antecedents and Sponsorship Outcomes. Journal of Services Marketing, 17(3), 275–294. https://doi.org/10.1108/08876040310474828

Haidt, J., & Hersh, M. A. (2001). Sexual morality: The cultures and emotions of conservatives and liberals1. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 31(1), 191–221. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1559-1816.2001.tb02489.x

Hauser, C., & Zraick, K. (2018, October 22). Larry Nassar sexual abuse scandal: Dozens of officials have been ousted or charged. The New York Times, https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/22/sports/larry-nassar-case-scandal.html.

Jesse, D. (2019, January 16). John Engler resigns as Michigan State University interim president. Detroit Free Press. https://www.freep.com/story/news/education/2019/01/16/john-engler-resigns-msu- president/2594498002/

Kachen, A., Krishen, A. S., Petrescu, M., Gill, R. D., & Peter, P. C. (2020). #MeToo, #MeThree, #MeFour: Twitter as community building across academic and corporate institutions. Psychology & Marketing, 38(3), 455–469. https://doi.org/10.1002/mar.21442

Kwiatkowski, M., Alesia, M., & Evans, T. (2016, August 4). A blind eye to sex abuse: How USA gymnastics failed to report cases. Indy Star. https://www.indystar.com/story/news/investigations/2016/08/04/usagymnastics-sex- abuse-protected-coaches/85829732.

Lee, J. S., & Kwak, D. H. (2016). Consumers’ responses to public figures’ transgression: Moral reasoning strategies and implications for endorsed brands. Journal of Business Ethics, 137(1), 101–113. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-015-2544-1

Lee, J. S., Kwak, D. H., & Moore, D. (2015). Athletes’ transgressions and sponsor evaluations: A focus on consumers’ moral reasoning strategies. Journal of Sport Management, 29(6), 672–687. https://doi.org/10.1123/jsm.2015-0051

Lickel, B., Schmader, T., Curtis, M., Scarnier, M., & Ames, D. R. (2005). Vicarious shame and guilt. Group Processes & Intergroup Relations, 8(2), 145–157. https://doi.org/10.1177/1368430205051064

Mael, F., & Ashforth, B. E. (1992). Alumni and their alma mater: A partial test of the reformulated model of organizational identification. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 13(2), 103–123. https://doi.org/10.1002/job.4030130202

Maese, R., & Giambalvo, E. (2020, June 10). Six former athletes accuse USA swimming of failing to act on sex abuse allegations. The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2020/06/10/six-former-athletes-accuse-usa-

Mason, W., & Suri, S. (2011). Conducting behavioral research on Amazon’s mechanical turk. Behavior Research Methods, 44(1), 1–23. https://doi.org/10.3758/s13428-011- 0124-6

Mignardi, L. (2021). Civil conspiracy—holding college officials accountable. SMU Law Review Forum, 74(1), 92. https://doi.org/10.25172//slrf.74.1.4

Murrell, A. J., & Dietz, B. (1992). Fan support of sport teams: The effect of a common group identity. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 14(1), 28–39. https://doi.org/10.1123/jsep.14.1.28

Nite, C., & Nauright, J. (2020). Examining institutional work that perpetuates abuse in sport organizations. Sport Management Review, 23(1), 117–118. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smr.2019.06.002

O’Neill, T. (2018). ‘Today I speak’: Exploring how victim-survivors use Reddit. International Journal for Crime, Justice and Social Democracy, 7(1), 44–59. https://doi.org/10.5204/ijcjsd.v7i1.402

Reel, J. J., & Crouch, E. (2019). #MeToo: Uncovering sexual harassment and assault in Sport. Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology, 13(2), 177–179. https://doi.org/10.1123/jcsp.2018-0078

Rhoads, TA., & Gerking, S. (2000). Educational contributions, academic quality, and athletic success. Contemporary Economic Policy, 18(2), 248–258. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1465-7287.2000.tb00022.x

Sato, S., Ko, Y. J., Chang, Y., & Kay, M. (2018). How does the negative impact of an athlete’s reputational crisis spill over to endorsed and competing brands? The moderating effects of consumer knowledge. Communication & S port, 7(3), 385– 409. https://doi.org/10.1177/2167479518783461

Schlabach, M., & Lavigne, P. (2020, May 21). Financial toll of coronavirus could cost college football at least $4 billion. ESPN.com, https://www.espn.com/college- sports/story/_/id/29198526/college-football-return-key-athletic-departments-deal- financial-wreckage-due-coronavirus-pandemic.

Snyder, C. R., Lassegard, M., & Ford, C. E. (1986). Distancing after group success and failure: Basking in reflected glory and cutting off reflected failure. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 51(2), 382–388. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022- 3514.51.2.382

Sports Business Journal (27 May, 2021). Sexual harassment of female reporters still an issue: “Real Sports” reports. Sports Business Journal. https://sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2021/05/27/Media/harassment-Real- Sports.aspx.

Sutton, W. A., McDonald, M. A., Milne, G. R., & Cimperman, J. (1997). Creating and fostering fan identification in professional sports. Sport Marketing Quarterly, 6, 15–22.

Tajfel, H., & Turner, J. C. (2004). The social identity theory of intergroup behavior. In Political Psychology (pp. 276–293). Psychology Press.

Theodorakis, N. D., Wann, D. L., Nassis, P., & Luellen, T. B. (2012). The relationship between sport team identification and the need to belong. International Journal of Sport Management and Marketing, 12, 25–38.

Tolman, E. C. (1943). Identification and the postwar world. The Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 38(2), 141–148. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0057497

Toma, J. D. (2003). Football U.: Spectator sports in the life of the American university. University of Michigan Press.

Tsang, J.-A. (2002). Moral rationalization and the integration of situational factors and psychological processes in immoral behavior. Review of General Psychology, 6(1), 25– 50. https://doi.org/10.1037/1089-2680.6.1.25

Valdesolo, P., & DeSteno, D. (2008). The duality of virtue: Deconstructing the moral hypocrite. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 44(5), 1334–1338. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2008.03.010

Wang, S., & Kim, K. J. (2019). Consumer response to negative celebrity publicity: The effects of moral reasoning strategies and fan identification. Journal of Product & Brand Management, 29(1), 114–123. https://doi.org/10.1108/jpbm-10-2018-2064

Wann, D. L., & Branscombe, N. R. (1990). Die-hard and fair-weather fans: Effects of identification on BIRGing and Corfing tendencies. Journal of Sport and Social Issues, 14(2), 103–117. https://doi.org/10.1177/019372359001400203

Wann, D. L., & Branscombe, N. R. (1993). Sports fans: Measuring degree of identification with their team. International Journal of Sport Psychology, 24(1), 1–17.

Wertheim, L., & Bernstein, V. (2017, December 17). Sources: Jerry Richardson, Panthers, have made multiple confidential payouts for workplace misconduct, including sexual harassment and use of a racial slur. Sports Illustrated. https://www.si.com/nfl/2017/12/17/jerry-richardson-carolina-panthers-settlements- workplace-misconduct-sexual-harassment-racial-slur

Published

2025-03-01