Week 5: Aggression and Moral Behaviour in Sport

Question 1

Moral behaviour and moral development

Answer 1

-moral behaviour: the carrying out of an action that is deemed right or wrong
-moral development: the process in which an individual develops the capacity to reason morally

Question 2

Structural development perspective (development of moral character)

Answer 2

-1. preconvention omrality (fear of punishment, hope of rewards)
-2. conventional morality (confirm for approval)
-3. post-conventional morality (principled actions)

Question 3

Social learning perspective (development of moral character)

Answer 3

-learned through reinforcement and modelling
-participation in sport teaches ethical sporting behaviour

Question 4

Factors influencing moral behaviour

Answer 4

-sport environment (influenced by coach)
-moticational climate (mastery vs. performance)
-team norms (standards that influence behaviour)
-goal orientation (task vs. ego orientations)

Question 5

Agression definition

Answer 5

-any overt verbal or physical act that is intended to injure another living organism either psychologically or physically

Question 6

Violent behaviour definition

Answer 6

-an extreme act of physical aggression, with no direct relationship to the competitive goals of the sport

Question 7

Assertive behaviour definition

Answer 7

-forceful, vigorous, and legitimate actions with no intent to injure an opponent

Question 8

4 point needed for aggressive behaviour

Answer 8

1. it is a behaviour, not an emotion/ feeling or personality trait
2. it can be verbal or physical
3. it is intended to cause psychological or physical harm
4. it is directed toward another living organism

Question 9

Instrumental agression definition

Answer 9

-aggressive acts serving as a means to a particular goal, such as winning, money, or prestige

Question 10

Hostile aggression definition

Answer 10

-aggressive acts undertaken for the intentional purpose of trying to harm or injure the victim

Question 11

Bullying and hazing in sport

Answer 11

-bullying: imbalance of power between peers, where the one who is more powerful repeatedly attacks the less powerful one with intention to harm
-hazing: any potentially humiliating, degrading, abusive, or dangerous activity expected of an individual to belong to a group, regardless of willingness to participate

Question 12

Psychodynamics (theory of aggression)

Answer 12

-humans are born with behavioural tendencies causing them to act in certain ways
-catharsis (need to release aggression)
-has little support

Question 13

Frustration-aggression theory (theory of aggression)

Answer 13

-aggression is a normal response to frustration
-aggression can have other causes other than frustration and frustration can lead to other behaviours other than aggression (revised theory)

Question 14

Physiological explanations (theory of aggression)

Answer 14

-physiological in nature
-brain pathology: research indicates that aggressive behaviour is often characteristic of people with brain tumours
-blood chemistry: aggression has been linked to the hormone testosterone

Question 15

Social learning theory (theory of aggression)

Answer 15

-mix of biology and environment
-people are aggressive because they have learned that aggression pays
-modelling: observing aggressive models and retaining tendencies
-learning: acquiring new responses due to reinforcement
-most accepted theory

Question 16

Moral disengagement (theory of aggression)

Answer 16

-extension of social learning theory
-individuals cognitively separate the moral component from an otherwise unprincipled act in order to rationalize engaging in it

Question 17

Factors influencing aggression in sport

Answer 17

-personal factors
-situational factors
-group factors

Question 18

Personal factors

Answer 18

-sex/gender: no significant findings of differences in aggression
-age: as competition increases, so does aggression
-physical size: bigger/stronger players are more aggressive
-retaliation motives: based on opponents previous aggression
-annoyances: inconsistent calls etc
-self presentation: people will be more aggressive if there is a chance they wont be seen
-passion/athletic identity: harmonious vs obsessive passion

Question 19

Situational factors

Answer 19

-frequency of competition: if you play more often, there will be more acts of aggression
-home advantage: away teams receive more foul calls
-point differentials: weak relationship
-coaching behaviours: if coach is modelling aggressive behaviours, players are more likely to as well
-

Question 20

Group factors

Answer 20

-individuals role: some players are not as good so their job is to slow down the other team
-team norms: if coach is aggressive it becomes more normal and accepted
-collective efficacy for aggression: teams perception of their ability to use aggression as a strategy

Question 21

Reducing aggression in sport

Answer 21

-punishment and encouragement
-educational interventions: anger management techniques
-behavioural modification practices: coping skills
-changes to sporting environment: ban alcohol at events, change competitive structure
-change aggressive behaviour in the media: stop glorifying it