Automatic aggression of future sports coaches is influenced by the presence of nevi-an exploratory study

Aggression in sport-related contexts has traditionally been examined through explicit self-report measures and situational determinants, while considerably less attention has been given to potential body-related correlates that may influence automatic aggressive tendencies. The aim of the research was to explore whether future sports coaches' automatic (implicit) aggression relate to nevus visibility (size and number). At the same time, we checked if the presence of nevi predicts automatic aggression in future coaches.

Eighty-nine participants took part in the study, all male future sports coaches, aged 20-22 years. For automatic (unconscious) aggression an Implicit Associations Test (IAT) was applied, using the classic 7-block version.

Data analysis revealed (using analysis of variance and Tukey post-hoc test) statistically significant differences in automatic aggression between future coaches with bigger facial nevi (p = 0.020), having a greater number of nevi on the upper and lower limbs (p = 0.016) and those who did not reported nevi in these areas of the body. Also, binomial logistic regression procedures were carried out to predict future sports coaches' likelihood of implicit aggression based on the presence of nevi across different body regions.

The findings provide exploratory evidence regarding the relationship between automatic aggression of future sports coaches and the presence of nevi, emphasizing the potential relevance of physical appearance-related markers in shaping automatic cognitive associations related to aggression. Larger facial nevi and a greater number of nevi at limbs level were linked to stronger associations between Aggression and Others category, at the implicit, subconscious level.