Aggression

Question 1

Define aggression

Answer 1

Any action, carried out with the intent to cause harm, outside the laws of the sport.
E.g. a footballer kicking an opponent (trying to injure them)

Question 2

Assertive behaviour

Answer 2

Legal, often encouraged
Physical dominance - opponent loses confidence, you gain confidence

Question 3

Describe instinct theory of aggression

Answer 3

• aggression is a natural human response/innate
• aggression builds up in all individuals and must be released
• aggression is triggered by increased arousal
• some personalities can control arousal better than others

Question 4

Pos + neg of instinct theory of aggression

Answer 4

Strengths - aggression is an accepted human trait
You can feel a release of catharsis when channelling aggression into sport

Weaknesses - too simplistic
Doesn’t account for environment

Question 5

Describe the social learning theory of aggression

Answer 5

• aggression is a learned response
• learned through observation and copy
• positive reinforcement increases the likelihood of copying
• negative reinforcement/punishment reduces this probability
• aggression is more likely to be copied if observed from a role model/significant other

Question 6

Pos + neg of social learning theory of aggression

Answer 6

Strengths:
• Bandura’s theories are well established and recognised e.g. Bobo dolls experiment
• considers environment - (not on mark scheme)

Weaknesses:
• doesn’t consider personality (traits)
• individuals don’t always copy the behaviour that they observe

Question 7

Explain the frustration aggression hypothesis

Answer 7

• frustration occurs when goal-directed behaviour is blocked e.g. you’re losing/playing poorly (outcome/performance)
• frustration always leads to aggression
• if aggression is successful, catharsis occurs e.g. performer hits opponent and doesn’t get caught, aggression is released
• If aggression is unsuccessful, frustration (and then arousal) goes up further and chance of aggression is more likely

Question 8

Pos + neg of frustration aggression hypothesis

Answer 8

Strengths:
• explains how aggression builds up
• plenty of evidence for the link between frustration and aggression

Weaknesses:
• frustration doesn’t always lead to aggression
• goal being blocked doesn’t always lead to aggression

Question 9

Explain the aggressive cue hypothesis

Answer 9

• an increase in frustration leads to an increased probability/likelihood of aggression
• however a stimulus (cue) is required to trigger aggression

Question 10

Examples of a cue/trigger
(Aggressive cue hypothesis)

Answer 10

• perceived unfairness e.g. ref bias
• nature of event e.g. cup final
• weapons/objects
• witnessing violence e.g. teammate gets pushed

Question 11

Pos + neg of aggressive cue hypothesis

Answer 11

Strengths:
• considered most realistic theory
• explains why aggression doesn’t always occur

No real weaknesses