Make sport-related self-control better: Ritualized behavior in Chinese athletes

Research suggests that ritualized behavior leads individuals to gain self-control, thereby influencing their performance. Although ritualized behavior is most widely applied to athletes, these studies have been found to have no clear quantitative association with self-control in Chinese athletes. This study investigates the main component of ritualized behavior in Chinese athletes and explores whether universal rituals or personalized rituals are better for sports-related self-control through a pilot study (n = 537) and an experiment (n = 105). A pilot study indicates that skill-dominated athletes are more likely to engage in ritualized behavior that is generally less connected with religious and superstitious elements. The experiment shows that both universal rituals and personalized rituals can enhance self-control under pressure. These findings highlight the importance of ritualized behavior in sport, which helps Chinese athletes enhance their performance, while also providing theoretical and practical insights into the psychological function that drives athletes' behaviors.