Aggression in Sport

Aggression Defined

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

Aggression Decision Tree

Behaviour

→ intent to harm

• harm or injure only → hostile/reactive behaviour

• harm as a means to a goal → instrumental aggression

• extreme act of physical uncontrolled aggression → violent behaviour

→ no intent to harm → assertive behaviour

Instrumental Aggression

an intentionally harmful act is a means to an end

Hostile/Reactive Aggression

primary objective is to harm

Aggression Key Points

• is a behaviour

• can be verbal or physical

• is intended to cause harm

• is directed toward another living organism

Bullying Defined

based on an imbalance of power between peers or teammates where the one who is more powerful repeatedly attacks the less powerful victim with the intent to harm

Bullying Types

• verbal

• physical

• sexual

• social/emotional

• prejudicial

• electronic

Hazing Defined

any potentially humiliating, degrading, abusive, or dangerous activity expected of an individual to belong to a group, regardless of their willingness to participate

Theories of Aggression

• psychodynamic theory

• frustration-aggression theory

• revised frustration-aggression theory

• physiological theories

• moral disengagement

• social learning theory

Psychodynamic Theory

humans are born with the instinct for aggression

Frustration-Aggression Theory

a blocked goal causes the individual to become frustrated, and frustration produces aggression

Revised Frustration-Aggression Theory

a blocked goal causes emotional reactions, which lead to a readiness to behave aggressively; appropriate environmental cues cause this readiness to develop into aggression

Physiological Theories

aggressive behaviour occurs because individuals have either a brain pathology or excess testosterone

Moral Disengagement

aggressive behaviour occurs through individuals changing their morality under certain conditions

Social Learning Theory

individuals use aggression because they have learned that aggression pays

Factors Influencing Aggression

• personal factors

• situation factors

• group factors

Personal Factors

• gender

• age

• physical size

• retaliation motives

• annoyances

• passion

Situation Factors

• frequency of competition

• home advantage

• point differentials

Group Factors

• individual’s role

• team norms

• collective efficacy for aggression

• group collision

Consequences of Aggression

• injury/harm

• elevated arousal levels

• penalization

• fan violence

Reducing Aggression in Sport

• punishment and encouragement

• educational interventions

• behavioural modification practices

• changes to sporting environment

Aggression Myths

• aggression in sport is a good characteristic

• aggression is only a physical behaviour

• athletes are born with certain moral behaviours