Theories of AggressionInstinct Theory

Aggression part II

RecapIn our last lesson we defined aggression

and discussed the differences between aggression and assertion in a sporting context. You should have a clear understanding of these differences.

Today we will learn and understand the causes of aggression with sport and the theories of aggression: focusing on the Instinct Theory.

Can we identify aggressive and assertive behaviour in sport? (add your example at the bottom)

Scenario Aggression Assertion

In trying to head a football; a player clashes heads with another player, causing serious injury to his opponent.

A boxer traps his opponent against the ropes and leads with his head into the chin of the opponent.

A rugby player studs a player at the bottom of a ruck.

A basketball coach smashes a chair in protest at a referee’s decision

Causes of aggressionIndividual performers may act aggressively

when:

They are losing (particularly when success has high intrinsic (pride) or extrinsic value (money) ).

Officiating is seen a unfair e.g. bad decisionEmbarrassment e.g. they have made an error

which has lead to opponent scoring a goalPhysical pain e.g. they have been tackled

hard previouslyPlaying below expectations which can lead to

frustration.

General causes of aggression

Over arousalProximity of crowdHome or away matchIncreased rewardsMedia intervention or commentBelief that is OK to be aggressive in a

sport than in other life contexts (everyday life)

CompetitionBelief that aggressive behaviour will help

you win (help performance outcome)

Why do some performers display more aggression than others? E.g. Roy Keane & Frank Lampard

Psychologists want to get the root cause of aggressive behaviour; is aggressive behaviour a result of nature or nature? Theories of aggression attempt to resolve issues such as:

Why do some performers find it hard to control aggression?

Are aggressive individuals born with innate aggressive characteristics?

Are they a product of their learning and environmental influences?

Theories of Aggression

1. Instinct Theory: Psychoanalytical approach & Ethological approach

2. Social Learning Theory3. Frustration/Aggression

Hypothesis4. Aggressive – cue Hypothesis

WHAT DO YOU THINK THE

INSTINCT THEORY IS?

1. Instinct TheoryInstinct theorists view aggression as

something that has formed in human beings through evolution. It is seen as inevitable; just as it is in the animal world. They believe aggression is innate and can be channelled in to more socially acceptable behaviour e.g. through sport as a spectator or performer.

There are two perspectives taken on the instinct theory:

- Psychoanalytical Approach- Ethological Approach

1. Instinct TheoryThe Psychoanalytical Approach

Associated with Freud Build up of Aggression = destructive

drive Aggressive tendencies are innate Expressed through self –

destruction or death instinct Self destruction balanced by life

instincts

1. Instinct TheoryThe Psychoanalytical Approach

This theory takes the approach that aggression builds up win a person; and is then directed away from ‘the self’ and in to another form of aggression:

- Acceptable e.g. ........................................

- Unacceptable e.g. crime, brutality or eventually back to the persons mind leading to suicide.

1. Instinct TheoryThe Psychoanalytical Approach

This theory takes the approach that aggression builds up win a person; and is then directed away from ‘the self’ and in to another form of aggression:

- Acceptable e.g. sport, expeditions- Unacceptable e.g. crime, brutality or

eventually back to the persons mind leading to suicide.

1. Instinct Theory: ego defenceCan you think of a time

when you have felt so frustrated or angry

that you couldn’t stop yourself from behaving

aggressively?

What was the outcome?

1. Instinct TheoryThe Psychoanalytical Approach

- ‘Ego defence’: When we want to behave in an unacceptable way we use ego defence mechanisms like displacement. E.g. When we are tackled hard in Rugby we don’t turn and punch our opponent we go to the side line and kick the bench.

- Redirecting emotional response FROM dangerous i.e. someone who will punch back or you get sent off TO a harmless target.

1. Instinct TheoryThe Ethological Approach

Associated with Konrad Lorenz who compared human behaviour with natural ritualistic behaviour in animals. E.g. Human attempts at territorial control like invasion.

Aggression builds up in human to create a drive that will lead to some form of destructive or aggressive behaviour.

To avoid this the aggression must be released in a constructive way to achieve catharsis.

1. Instinct TheoryThe Ethological Approach

Lorenz is saying that for you to feel better, to reduce the drive to behave aggressively you must release it in a constructive way e.g. punching somebody in the face may not reduce aggressive behaviour in the short or long term!!

Does channelled aggression in sport lead to Catharsis? i.e. does releasing your aggression in sport reduce aggressive tendencies in everyday life?

Watch the video of Luton vs. Mill Wall

Is aggression in sport drive reducing or drive enhancing ?Drive = level of motivation or arousal towards achieving a

specific goal.

Does channelled aggression in sport lead to Catharsis?

Drive = level of motivation or arousal towards achieving a specific goal.

Instinct theorists believe that channelling aggression through socially acceptable behaviour in sport is drive reducing (releases aggression leading to catharsis). Research contradicts this and has shown that as a performer or spectator watching aggressive behaviour in sport in can be drive enhancing e.g. Aggression building in the crowd at a football match or a spectator at a boxing match reproducing the aggression in everyday life.

Criticisms of Instinct TheoryTASK

What criticisms or weaknesses can you draw from Instinct Theory of aggression?

Note down your criticisms of instinct theory providing an explanation of each.

Consider the following:- Are all humans innately aggressive?- Are there other influences that may

override an innate aggression?- Can you compare humans to

animals?

Criticisms of Instinct Theory Comparing human behaviour to animal

behaviour is to simple. Humans learn in a social environment in more cases than animals.

No innate aggressive drive has ever been indentified; this theory is based on the view that aggression is innate in all human beings.

It is difficult to measure the cathartic effect of releasing aggression. This theory takes the view that channelling aggression for example, through sport, is cathartic.

Lorenz does not take into account learning and socialising influences, which are to seen to overide possible innate aggression.

Criticisms of Instinct Theory

Early human beings were not warrior but hunter gatherers; this contradicts Instinct theory as it states that aggression has been form through evolution and is inventible.

Cross cultural studies do not support the view that all human beings are naturally aggressive.

Cultural influences are seen as being more important determinants of human aggression than biological factors i.e. What is socially acceptable?