THE INVESTIGATION OF THE EFFECT OF SPORTS ON PERSONALITY Ünsal Tazegül 1 Abstract: Purpose of this study is to determine the impact of sport on personality. The sample of the study is made up of 50 university students who do not exercise regularly and participate in the study voluntarily. The students participating in the study are given fitness training 4 days a week for 3 months. To determine the personality of the students participating in the study to assess personality characteristics Adjective Based Personality Test (SDKT) developed by Bacanlı et al (2009) was used. SPSS 20 software package was used to analyze the data obtained. Supplementary statistics and co-sample t-test were used to analyze the data. Following 3 month sports training, a reduction in the trait of neuroticism, and an increase in extraversion, complaisance, and responsibility dimensions have been determined. At the end of the study, it was determined that the sport has a positive influence on the personality. In this study and many other studies carried out before, it has emerged that the sport has an important role in personality development and socializing. Keywords: Sports, Personality, Impact. 1. Introduction There are several personality definitions and theories in the literature. Personality in the most general sense, includes everything includes everything from a to z about human beings. The beginning of personality is a long and continuous process starting from the conception to the end of his life (1-4). Cüceloğlu has described personality as one's relation with internal and external environment and one's distinguishing,coherent and formed relation type. (5). After humans evolved, sport has been in people's lives in different types by having the game and satisfaction concepts (6). According to some defined rules, sport has generally been described as the individual and teamwork competitions or social events that gives satisfaction. (7). While the sport enables stimulations that derive from individual's biological instinct, it is also a behavior pattern that fulfills fundamental needs. Its aim can be personal, social or economical. Doing sports is not only a physical struggle but also it is a means for individual's socialization and adaptation process to the society. In that case; the interaction in the sport ambiance enables opportunities that are convenient for the feelings' revelation and control. The one who participates in sportive activities finds the chance to express himself through moves. He learns to reveal feelings that have been qualified as negative behaviors such as aggression,anger,shyness,envy and how to control the negative feelings. So, there can be a positive impact for the adaptation period. At the same time, sport makes a positive impact on neurovegative nervous system and enables the system to work stably. So it helps excessive excitements,aggression feelings,tempers to be removed. Successes that have been gained in sport increase the self confidence. (8,9). There have been more than 1000 published articles upon the sport personality appearances until 1994. Most of these articles had been written during 1960 and 1970. These studies have shown that they consider the personality role as part of sport and training. In 1980 Williams had detected that successful female sportsmen are definetely different as compared to mormative female personality profile. It has been determined that female sportsmen that have been compared to non sportive ones are more prone to success, independent, aggressive and stubborn (10). Sport is a tool in socialization of individuals, besides it gives an opportunity to express their feelings and self- realization to an individual. Thanks to sport, an individual impulse most of his negative motives and he learns to keep them under control (11). 1 unsaltazegul@hotmail.com; İstanbul Gelişim University High School of Physical Education and Sports, Turkiye. IJRDO-Journal of Educational Research ISSN : 2456-2947 Volume-1 | Issue-4 | July,2016 | Paper-3 25