SPORTS PSYCHOLOGY: A look at Allan Iverson

Allen Iverson is an enigma to all those he encounters. Seems nobody can figure him out, even on the basketball court, because he keeps scoring despite draconian measures to stop him. By some accounts he plays the sport exceptionally well, has earned the respect of many of his peers for playing in pain (a badge of honor among some athletes), and for his overall fearless play on the court. A true All-Star.

His coach Larry Brown and General Manager Pat Croce rave about the improvement in his play, personal growth, and maturity. With the NBA still struggling in the post-Jordan era, Mr. Iverson is one of the few select players anointed by the NBA powers that be, and some other folk, to bring the league back to its former prominence. All this is well and fine, and perhaps valid.

But Iverson doesn't seem to be buying into the grand plan, as his behaviors on and off the court leave much to be desired.

Complex, mercurial, difficult, taciturn are words that can all be used to describe aspects of Iverson's personality. His music (if you could call it that) is laced with profane and anti-gay tones. His most recent homophobic and profanity filled responses directed to the crowd who think that the price of admission allows them to insult players, (a twisted premise at best) brought him right down to their level. Or is it that they reached down to his? In fact, for someone who prides himself on being different and independent, his actions put him both psychologically and emotionally in a dependent, reactively controlled state.

His verbal taunts to the crowd were in fact an abdication of the control he appears so desperately to desire. The crowd crowed, Mr. Iverson responded. Much like a Skinnerian pigeon slowly pecking himself to death on a machine while awaiting the pellets to drop. A taunt comes; Iverson responds. A truly paradoxical response from someone who thrives to be different.

People who make comments about others sexuality or race (the latter subject supposedly is one that Mr. Iverson is sensitive about being a minority himself), are often both ignorant, threatened, scared and perhaps intolerant. Keep in mind that sexuality like most human feelings and conditions, exists on a continuum. That is we all have our feminine and homosexual aspects within us. It is just a matter of degree and how it is expressed.

Often people are scared of those aspects within themselves that they are judgmental about. For example, thoughts, feelings or impulses that have homosexual or feminine connotations can be frightening to those who are not accepting of all aspects of their psyches. Thus they overreact and lash out in order to defend against these threatening impulses, which are really just universal, in much the same way Iverson lashed out. Perhaps he is just ignorant or intolerant. Regardless, in Mr. Iverson's case it is inappropriate.

What is also interesting is both Iverson's and coach Brown's explanations for his behaviors.

Mr. Iverson has managed to insult and alienate the world's gay population and numerous sports writers who are assigned to cover him. Actually, in reality it is an insult to us all, but you would not know it by Iverson's and coach Brown's explanations for his actions, which in essence suggested he was justified in responding the way he did. Seems like Brown and Iverson feel it is proper to respond in kind when the fans are acting in an inappropriate manner. Sadly, they are not alone.

Clearly players, as well as all of us, are under constant pressures. Unfortunately, abuse from the fans, pressures from the media, requests for their time, and constant scrutiny of both their public and private lives are common occurrences for today's athlete. Nobody enjoys hearing barbs, insults, and putdowns. What appears to be lost on Iverson and Brown is that it does not give them a right to respond in kind.

In fact their responses reminds one of the excuses you hear from children who try to justify their inappropriate actions and behaviors on the actions of others. I was wronged! In Iverson's world it seems one wrong makes another's response right no matter what the response. Once again the reason for one's actions exists outside of oneself. Now how can anyone call that self-control, independence, or autonomy?

The fact is that Iverson is out of control.

Maybe the desire to be in control and the inability to do so is reflected in the play of a number of other players who appear to be out of control on the court. Many in the field suggest that one of the reasons for the decline in the NBA is the lack of team play. Perhaps the inability to control oneself emotionally translates into their performance on the court?

From all reported accounts Mr. Iverson holds court with the media after games. They are often left waiting for inordinate amounts of time for him to make up his mind as to his availability. This seems to be a complex process similar to the games cats and mice play, with the poor scribes having to get the story.

For most people the issue of time and access is one of control, or at best poor time management, which is really another form of attempting to attain control over one's environment. It gives them an illusionary sense of independence in a world where none of us can truly be totally independent. And there really aren't as many choices as we would like to think that we have in our everyday lives. We all live by the clock. So does Iverson.

Yes, granted it’s a life filled with responsibilities and demands that include airport arrivals and departures, games, practices, and meal schedules. Public appearances, and of course as part of his responsibility to his employer, time for the media, are all part of a regimented existence. This of course does not take into account his actions off the court, a life in which Iverson continues to have difficulty making the shot. He too has to pay his bills and deal with his personal relations. Sound familiar? It is. Mr. Iverson's life as it relates to psychological independence is not much different from the rest of us. All that really differs is the specifics.

An eye for an eye, autonomy and independence at all costs seem to be paramount to Iverson's inner world. And what a world it is!

Yet he seems unaware that he has achieved none of it.