what is aggression
- the intent to harm and outside the rules of the sports event
- Aggression can be desirable or unacceptable
- ‘Aggression is any form of behaviour directed toward the goal of harming or injuring another living being who is motivated to avoid such treatment”
what is the difference between aggression and assertion
aggression:
- uncontrolled
- intent to harm
- outside the rules
- reactive
assertion:
- controlled
- no intent to harm
- within the rules
- motivated
what are the theories of aggression
- instinct theory - lorenz 1966
- frustration aggression hypothesis - dollard 1939
- social learning theory - bandura 1977
- aggressive cue hypothesis - berkowitz 1969
what is the instinct theory
- Believes that aggression is innate in individuals.
- Aggression is an emotion / energy that builds up within individuals, and therefore must be released.
- Suggests that sporting activity will allow individuals to release their natural aggression in a safe and controlling environment. –> Otherwise it will be release via an anti-social act
what are positives for the instinct theory
- Many ethologists believed that this aggressive instinct has evolved, and it was identified in animals to enable them to survive, e.g. fight, and regain their territory.
- Aggression can be hard to control - can seem like a natural instinct.
- Some people are born aggressive/have an aggressive trait they’re born with
what are negatives for the instinct theory
- Primitive man (cave men) were hunter gatherers not warriors, showing aggression wasn’t innate –> it was in later civilisations that humans began to battle/fight/war.
- Aggression is often learned / copied / influenced by upbringing/influenced by socialisation
- Too simplistic/ too generalised
- Aggression is often not spontaneous or aggression is usually provoked
what is the social learning theory
- believes aggression is a learned response. –> therefore, aggression is not an instinct.
- we learn and copy aggressive acts from others (vicarious processes) –> especially if we see significant others being aggressive or if our aggressive acts are reinforced by significant others.
what are positives for the social learning theory
- Bandura’s Bobo doll experiment demonstrated that children are likely to copy the aggressive role models
- People’s behaviour is often similar to their significant others. I.e we do see some people being aggressive if they have aggressive role models.
how does the bobo doll experiment give evidence for the social learning theory
Bobo doll experiment:
- Bandura demonstrated that children learn and imitate behaviours they have observed in other people.
- The children in Bandura’s studies observed an adult acting violently toward a Bobo doll.
- When the children were later allowed to play in a room with the Bobo doll, they began to imitate the aggressive actions they had previously observed.
- Bandura found that a child is more likely to attend to and imitate those people it perceives as similar to itself.
- Consequently, it is more likely to imitate behaviour modelled by people of the same sex.
what are negatives for the social learning theory
- Sometimes people’s behaviour does not reflect that of their significant others. It can be completely different.
- People can be aggressive even without seeing aggressive role models (instinct)
What is the frustration-aggression hypothesis
- States that frustration always leads to aggression
- Because blocking of goals that an individual is trying to reach increases that individuals frustration, which in turn increases aggression.
- Aggression once initiated will reduce frustration leading to catharsis
draw the frustration-aggression hypothesis + use a sporting example
what are positives for the frustration-aggression hypothesis
- Lots of anecdotal evidence in sport. I.e. we often see athletes act aggressively after their goal has been blocked and they have become frustrated. –> Suarez Bite
- Frustration often leads to aggression
- People often report a sense of catharsis once frustration is released as aggression
what are negatives for the frustration-aggression hypothesis
- Frustration doesn’t always cause aggression.
- Better performers can control frustration and arousal.
- Doesn’t take into account those born with aggressive traits
what is the aggressive cue hypothesis
- States that when an individual is frustrated there is an increase in arousal levels.
- This creates a readiness for aggression.
- If aggression is going to occur, then according to Berkowitz, an aggressive cue must be present.
draw the aggressive cue hypothesis
what are examples of aggressive cues
- People associated with aggressive acts (a coach, player or fans)
- Sports associated with aggression (contact sports)
- Places associated with violence (a venue linked to previous experiences of violence acts)
- Objects associated with aggression (bats, boxing gloves etc)
what are positives for the aggressive cue hypothesis
- We often see more aggressive acts in sports like rugby, where aggressive cues are present.
- We see less aggression in sports like netball, where there are less aggressive cues.
what are negatives for the aggressive cue hypothesis
- Even with the increase in arousal and the presence of aggressive cues, some athletes (especially elite) can control aggression. e.g. won’t always lead to an aggressive act.
- Some people are aggressive even without aggressive cues being present, which may be due to social learning or could be instinctive/an innate trait (instinct theory)
what are ways/examples of eliminating aggression
- Stress management/relaxation techniques - E.g. deep breathing, counting to 10 etc.
- Reinforce/reward/praise non-aggressive acts
- Show/highlight/praise non-aggressive role models
- Punish aggressive acts e.g. fine system, drop a player from the team.
