7. Aggression in Sport Flashcards
Aggression
any form of behaviour directed toward the goal of harming or injuring another living being who is motivated to avoid such treatment
4 criteria of aggression:
It is a behaviour
It involves intent
It involves harm or injury
It is directed towards a living organism
Types of aggression
Hostile aggression
The primary goal is to inflict injury or psychological harm
Instrumental aggression
Intent to harm is present, yet there is an external goal (e.g. Victory, money etc) and the aggressive act is instrumental in achieving the goal
Assertive behaviour
Use of legitimate physical or verbal force but there is no intent to harm
Hostile aggression
- Intent to harm
- Goal to harm
- Anger
Assertive behaviour
- No intent to harm
- Legitimate force
- Unusual effort and energy
expenditure
Instrumental aggression
- Intent to harm
- Goal to win
- No anger
Theories that cause aggression?
Instinct theories – ethological approach to aggression
Drive theories
Social learning theories
Instinct Theory
aggressiveness is innate characteristic
individuals are born with instinct that makes aggressive
behaviour inevitable
hitting opponent is cathartic
Sport important domain to channel aggressive behaviours in socially acceptable way
No empirical support for the instinct theory in explaining aggression in a sporting context
Variants of the serotonin transporter gene linked to aggression
Frustration-Aggression
Theory
Aggression is a response to frustration and the aggressive act provides catharsis
Frustrations occur regularly in sporting context
Frustration does not necessarily result in aggression but creates readiness for aggression which may translate to aggressive behaviour if certain stimuli are present
Factor that leads to aggression
Frustration is just one antecedent of aggression
– other possible causes of aggression.
Social Learning Theory
aggression was a learned behaviour through social
modelling and direct reinforcement
Strongest social influence on player’s aggression
team- level aggression predicted player aggression
only one situational cause of aggression
frustation
Other provocative situational factors
Provocation, spectators, conditions of playing
Personal factors influence aggression
Traits, attitudes, beliefs
