Notes on Aggression and Moral Behaviour in Sport

Aggression and Moral Behaviour in Sport

Learning Objectives
  • Define moral behaviour.
  • Identify & describe 5 factors that influence moral behaviour.
  • Define & identify aggression, violent behaviour, assertive behaviour, instrumental & hostile aggression.
  • Provide examples of 3 modes of aggression.
  • Define, describe, & understand evidence related to 6 theories of aggression.
  • Describe fan aggression and the relationship between aggression and performance.
  • Discuss 2 strategies to reduce aggression.
Moral Behaviour
  • Definition: Moral behaviour refers to actions that are perceived as right or wrong, learned through reinforcement and modeling.
  • Athletes often act against their goals due to perceived moral imperatives, exhibiting actions categorized as "the right thing to do."
Factors Influencing Moral Behaviour

  1. Sport Environment

    • Provides a setting for moral learning, emphasizes cooperation, fairness, and respect.
    • Negative influences arise from opportunities for unfair play and intimidation.

  2. Motivational Climate

    • Coaches emphasizing cooperation foster prosocial behaviour.
    • Coaches emphasizing competition may lead to antisocial behaviour.

  3. Team Norms

    • Team-specific standards significantly shape athletes' behaviour.
    • For example, if yelling at referees is accepted, players are likely to emulate that behaviour.

  4. Bullying and Hazing

    • Bullying: The misuse of power by one peer toward another, intended to harm.
    • Hazing: Humiliating and dangerous activities expected for group membership, regardless of consent.

  5. Aggression

    • Competes with moral standards; high levels of aggression can lead to moral disengagement.
Aggression
  • Definition of Aggression: Overt acts intended to injure another organism either psychologically or physically.
    • Components include:
    1. Behavioral nature (not an emotion).
    2. Can be verbal or physical.
    3. Intended to harm.
    4. Directed to others.
Modes of Aggression
  1. Physical Aggression
  2. Verbal Aggression
  3. Relational Aggression
Violent vs. Assertive Behaviour
  • Violent Behaviour: Extreme physical aggression unrelated to competition.
  • Assertive Behaviour: Legitimate, forceful actions that do not intend to injure.
Two Types of Aggression

  1. Instrumental Aggression:

    • Goals include winning or achieving objectives, with harm as a side effect.

  2. Hostile Aggression:

    • Primary goal is to inflict injury, often prompted by anger.
Theories of Aggression

  1. Psychodynamics

    • Aggression is innate and must be released (concept of catharsis).
    • Contradictory evidence against instinctive aggression.

  2. Physiological Explanations

    • Links aggression to brain pathology and hormones, like testosterone.

  3. Frustration-Aggression Hypothesis

    • Frustration leads to aggression, although alternatives for coping exist.

  4. Social Learning Theory

    • Aggression is learned through observation, reinforcement, and social comparison.

  5. Revised Frustration-Aggression Theory

    • Combines frustration with social signals that approve aggression.

  6. Moral Disengagement

    • Justifications used by individuals to reconcile aggressive actions against moral standards.
    • Eight mechanisms include moral justification, euphemistic labelling, and distortion of consequences.
Additional Considerations
  • Fan Aggression: Emotional instability and identification with teams can lead to increased aggression.
  • Aggression and Performance: Mixed findings; while some argue aggression can enhance performance, others indicate it diverts focus and does not support performance.
Reducing Aggression
  1. Punishment and Encouragement: Balance punishment for aggressive acts with incentives for positive behaviour.
  2. Educational Interventions: Target coaches, parents, and players with trainings on aggression and its consequences.
  3. Behaviour Modification: Implement practices to change aggressive behaviours.
  4. Sporting Environment Changes: Create environments that discourage aggression.
  5. Media Management: Address the portrayal of aggression in sports media and its impact on behaviour.