Aggression

Question 1

What is aggression?

Answer 1

• Intent to harm (physical/verbal)
• Outside of the rules
• Reactive
• Out of control
  E.g. kicking someone in the knee in football

Question 2

What is assertion?

Answer 2

• Controlled
• Generally within rules
• Not intended to harm
• Goal-directed
• Well-motivated
  E.g. firm but fair rugby tackle

Question 3

What is the grey area between aggression and assertion?

Answer 3

E.g. boxing
Activities such as boxing have characteristics of both aggression (e.g. intent to harm) and assertion (e.g. controlled, within rules, goal-directed)

Question 4

Describe instinct (trait) theory

Answer 4

• Aggression is an innate trait within everyone
• Assumption that aggression is instinctive
• Everyone will show aggressive traits but individuals show these after different amounts of provocation

Question 5

How does this theory explain how sport can increase and decrease aggressive behaviour?

Answer 5

• As everyone has aggressive tendencies, confrontational situations which occur in sport cause aggressive responses in people
• Most likely to occur in contact sports
• However, some people also use sport as an opportunity to release aggressive tendencies at acceptable times - catharsis

Question 6

Describe aggressive cue hypothesis

Answer 6

• This theory states that aggression is only shown when there are cues or triggers present
• Frustration creates readiness for aggression which can be initiated by an incident during the performance (cue)
• If they think they can get away with it e.g. coach encourages them
• This is a learned response

Question 7

Describe frustration-aggression hypothesis

Answer 7

• Frustration always leads to aggression and aggression is always the result of frustration

Question 8

Describe the flow scheme in the F-A hypothesis

Answer 8

Drive to a goal --->
Obstacle --->
Frustration --->
Inevitable aggression ---> either 
Punishment^
or
Success --->
Catharsis

Question 9

Explain the flow scheme in the F-A hypothesis

Answer 9

• All sportspeople have a drive to a goal
  E.g. score a goals in football
• The opposition will provide the obstacle to this goal
  E.g. being tackled every time you get the ball
• This will cause frustration to the performer
• This frustration will always lead to aggression

Sport can either increase or decrease aggressive behaviours during a game

• If the frustration results in transgression of the rules, the performer will be punished. This further increases their frustration which leads to increases aggression and so on
• If the performer channels the aggression successfully, this will reduce frustration, which in turn will have a cathartic effect - some people believe this will lead to a reduction in aggressive behaviour

Question 10

Describe social learning theory

Answer 10

Bandura suggested that many behaviours including aggression are learned through observing and copying the behaviour of others

Social learning is especially likely to happen if:

• The model being observed has a high status
• The behaviour is reinforced or accepted as normal
• The behaviour being observed is realistic
• Equally, non-aggressive role models can alsobe copied and performers may also lean non-aggressive behaviour

Question 11

What tactics might a coach use to prevent aggression?

Answer 11

• Do not reinforce aggressive acts in training
• Punish aggressive acts with fines
• Reward non-aggressive behaviour
• Substitute aggressive player - remove from situation
• Reinforce non-aggressive e.g. give fair play awards
• Promote peer group pressure within the team
• Avoid ‘win at all costs’ mentality
• Use mental rehearsal/relaxation techniques
• Point out responsibilities to the team
• Set non-aggressive goals
• Point out non-aggressive role models
• Channel aggression into assertion

Question 12

What tactics might an official use to prevent aggression?

Answer 12

• Be consistent in judgement/sanctions
• Apply rules correctly/fairly
• Punish aggressive behaviours immediately
• Give clear decisions with authority
• Show empathy with players