“I am not sure what you mean…“: The possible contribution of interpersonal appraisals to social-cognitive accounts of doping use

The theoretical and research considerations presented in this chapter overall are guided by the assumption that doping behavior partly depends on the dynamic interplay between an individual’s beliefs and the appraisals he or she makes in evaluating self-relevant interpersonal experiences. The chapter focuses on a particular form of interpersonal appraisals, namely, one’s interpretations of others’ intentions in situations which have personal relevance. Relatedly, this chapter introduces the general hypothesis that these forms of interpersonal appraisals are of particular importance in contributing to the scientific understanding of doping use, as they might help account for individual differences in doping intentions and doping use. In so doing, it will first introduce broad theoretical and research frameworks that indirectly support this general view and will subsequently address the value of a research focus on interpersonal appraisals in doping research. The chapter will finally describe a research program that has moved its initial steps to inquire and find empirical support to the hypothesized linkages between interpersonal appraisals and doping use in various sport contexts.