Abstract
The purpose of the study was to verify whether physical education (PE) acrobatic activities would be effective in modifying the individual’s tendency to undertake out-of-school leisure and adventurous sports typified by physical and psychological challenges. The Motor Activity Anxiety Test and pictures of adventurous sports were presented to Italian male high school students (N = 72) to assess their approach–avoidance attitude towards the activities portrayed. An emotion-profiling assessment grounded on the IZOF framework was also employed to identify idiosyncratic optimal-dysfunctional and pleasant–unpleasant emotional descriptors. Two experimental groups were engaged in highly emotion-arousing PE tasks for 12 lessons, while two control groups were involved in team sports. Findings demonstrated the effectiveness of the intervention in modifying the participants’ attitudes.