Sport Psychology: Aggression

Question 1

What is aggression?

Answer 1

The intent to harm outside the rules; hostile behaviour

Question 2

Wha is assertion?

Answer 2

Well motivated behaviour within the rules

Question 3

What are the characteristics of aggression?

Answer 3

. Uncontrolled
. Intent to harm
. Outside rules
. Reactive

Question 4

What are the characteristics of assertion?

Answer 4

. Controlled
. No intent to harm
. Within rules
. Motivated

Question 5

What theories are used to explain aggression?

Answer 5

. Frustration-Aggression hypothesis
. Aggressive cue hypothesis
. Social learning theory
. Instinct theory

Question 6

What is the instinct theory?

Answer 6

Aggression is spontaneous and innate

Question 7

What are the characteristics of the ‘Innate Theory’?

Answer 7

. The aggressive response is innate
. It is a product of our evolution and will surface under provocation. Defending territory - home pitch
. Players use sport as an outlet for built up aggressive energy. Catharsis

Question 8

What evaluations are there of the innate theory?

Answer 8

. Aggression may not be spontaneous
. Aggression is pre-planned/learned
. Evolution, not all aggressive
. Performers in aggressive sports calmer away from the game. Through catharsis

Question 9

What is Catharsis?

Answer 9

Cleansing of the emotions using sports as an outlet for aggression

Question 10

What is the frustration-aggression hypothesis?

Answer 10

. Aggression is inevitable when frustrating circumstances cause our goals to be blocked, eg a referee’s decision, poor play or being fouled
. Blocked goal causes frustration, frustration causes aggression, release of aggression causes catharsis if not released, further frustration is felt

Question 11

What is the aggression cue hypothesis?

Answer 11

. Suggests that aggression is caused by a learned trigger
. Aggression only occurs if learned ‘cues’ are present

Question 12

What is an example of an aggression cue hypothesis?

Answer 12

Coach allows football player to elbow defender as team works for position in the penalty area as corner is taken. Taking of a corner is a learned cue for an aggressive response

Question 13

What is the social learning theory?

Answer 13

. Aggression is learned from experience, coaches, role models and significant others.
. Aggressive behaviour will be copied if it is reinforced

Question 14

What did Bandura suggest about aggression and children? (Social learning theory)

Answer 14

Bandura suggested that children will copy the aggressive behaviour of adults, especially in a live situation

Question 15

How do we prevent aggression?

Answer 15

. Don’t reinforce aggressive acts in training
. Punishing players with fines, sub them
. Sending players off
. Mental rehearsal reduces arousal - teach cognitive techniques (imagery)
. Teach relaxation, stress management, calming players down
. Set goals on performance not outcome
. Reinforce assertion in training
. Applying the rules consistently and fairly
. Pointing out responsibilities to the team
. Walking away from the situation
. Applying sanctions immediately
. Non aggressive goals
. Highlight non aggressive role models
. Channel aggression into assertion

Question 16

Explain how aggression might be caused in a team game using instinct theory. Is this theory always a reliable way of explaining aggression?

Answer 16

In a derby game such as the Manchester Derby, the home side will believe that defending their home ground is important so will therefore assert their dominance through aggression. However this aggression is thought to be innate but it can be pre-planned. It might be learnt that in a game like this that they have to show aggression but in other matches they may not have to or not show as much