Aggression in Sport

What is Aggression?

Involves arousal and anger and intention to harm, outside of the rules.

What is Assertion?

Has no intent to harm and uses legitimate force within the rules.

What are the 4 types of aggression?

• Hostile Aggression

• Reactive Aggression

• Channelled Aggression

• Instrumental Aggression

What is Hostile Aggression?

Intent to harm/ injure (e.g. Roy Keane’s knee high tackle on Alfie Haaland)

What is Reactive Aggression?

Response to being provoked (e.g. Zidane’s headbutt)

What is Channelled Aggression?

Legitimate force within the rules (e.g. Djed Spence last ditch tackle against Argentina in WC 26)

What is Instrumental Aggression?

Main aim is to achieve a goal by using aggression (e.g. boxing)

What are some Factors of Aggression?

• Personality (neurotic extrovert)

• Type of sport (rugby, boxing…)

• Situation in game (Scoreline) → Crowd (Social Facilitation)

• Referee decisions

• Group cohesion

• Weather (too hot/cold/wet)

• Home/Away

• Physical pain

• Reputation

What is Under-Developed Moral Reasoning?

Players with low levels of moral reasoning are more likely to be aggressive.

What is Bracketed Morality?

A double standard of condoning aggressive behaviour in sport, but not in life in general.

What is Deindividuation?

A state in which you become immersed in the norms of the group that you lose your sense of identity and personal responsibility (mob mentality)

What can Players do to reduce aggressive behaviour?

• Control stress/ anxiety → coping methods (e.g. PMR, Centring)

• Taking accountability → Roles models, Cohesion

• Leadership opportunities

What can Coaches do to reduce aggressive behaviour?

• Role models (portray positive behaviour) → Education / mentoring

• Training opportunities → Appropriate to arousal situations → Increases familiarity/ stability in the actual situations

• Knowing individual performer’s needs

• Decide who/ when to play a player → Removing players from a situation

• Encouragement

• Team bonding/ cohesion

What can Governing Bodies do to reduce aggressive behaviour?

• Education

• Fair play awards

• Rules → Qualify officials

• Punishments → Fines, bans