Aggression in Sport

Aims and objectives;

� Describe the nature of aggression and assertion

� Define channeled aggression� Explain the causes of aggressive behaviour� Evaluate critically theories of aggression

(instinct theories; frustration-aggression hypothesis; aggressive-cue hypothesis (Berkowitz); social theories);

� Describe methods of eliminating aggressive tendencies of performers.

Definitions. . .

� ‘Any behaviour that is intended to harm another individual by physical or verbal means’ (Bull, 1990)

� ‘Is any form of behaviour directed toward the goal of harming or injuring another living being who is motivated to avoid such treatment’ (Baron)

The term aggression is used to describe forceful behaviour in sport . .

Definitions cont…

� These imply that aggression is socially unacceptable and so does not have a place in sport.

� While this is true, questions must be asked about the crash tackle in rugby or the toshi throw in judo.

� Both these skills have the capacity to injure, but they are recognised as being a legitimate part of the sport.

The term aggression needs to be clearly defined. . .

To understand the term it is necessary to divide aggression into 2 categories

Hostile Aggression

Assertive Behaviour (referred to as Channelled Aggression)

Hostile (or reactive) aggression:� Outside the rules of the game� Prime motive is to harm and inflict injury� Involves anger and often an aggressive

player will disrupt the team’s performance and spoil cohesion of the group

� Needs to be eliminated from sporte.g Throwing a punch at an opponent in football

Assertive Channelled Aggression:

� Within the rules and spirit of the game� Prime motive is to execute the skill� Anger is not evidente.g. The attacking rugby player running hard at

the defence; primary intention is to break through the tackle, secondary intention is to inflict a painful experience so the defender is reluctant to tackle next time

KEY TERMSHOSTILE AGGRESSION

Aggression is referred to as hostile aggression if it is defined as deliberate intention to harm or injure another person

e.g. Deliberate high tackle in rugby.

CHANNELLED AGGRESSIONChannelled aggression is often referred to as assertion and

involves robust play which is directed towards completing the skill successfully and is not primarily involved with inflicting

injurye.g. A legitimate tackle in rugby

The Causes or Antecedents of aggressive behaviour

Antecedents

A prior event which can lead to aggression. Note that an

antecedent is a cause and not a theory of aggression

TASKFor a short period watch a number of sporting videos and look at a number of sports that include physical contact.

Identify the acts of assertion and the acts of aggression and try to allocate a cause for this behaviour. . .

Elimination of Aggression

Methods to eliminate aggression come under 2 headings:

1.COGNITIVE techniques which involve psychological strategies2.SOMATIC techniques which involve physiological strategies.

COGNITIVERelating to mental of psychological process

SOMATICRelating to physical processes such as increases in breathing rate, heart rate and sweating

Methods to Eliminate Aggressive Tendencies

•A coach must negatively reinforce aggressive behaviour in training•Punish aggression i.e. with fines, benching•Substitute an aggressive player or remove him from the situation •Reinforce non-aggression, eg. Give a fair play award•Emphasis non-aggressive role models•Lower arousal levels•Stress performance rather than outcome goals•Implement stress management techniques•Change the athletes perception of the situation

Theories of Aggression(see handout)

� Instinct Theory – trait perspective� The social learning theory – social

learning perspective� Frustration-aggression hypothesis-

interactionist perspective� Aggressive Cue Hypothesis (Berkowitz)

– interactionist perspective

Task 2 -

You will be given a theory to study . . .

Prepare a short presentation of this theory

You may use power point, flip chart or poster presentation or another form of presentation of your choice.

Your presentations will take place next lesson.

So. . . Is Aggression learned or is it instinctive? Discuss!