6.5 Aggression

Question 1

Aggression or assertion

Answer 1

Aggression is when an individual purposefully harms or injures their opponent, it is outside of the rules, hostile and reactive.
Assertion when an individual plays hard, but within the rules and has no intention to harm the opposing.
Causes of aggression:
- playing badly
- feeling like teammates aren’t trying
- disagrees with official
- provoked
- contact sports = expected
- over-arousal
- naturally aggressive personality

Question 2

What are the theories of aggression

Answer 2

Instinct theory
Frustration-aggression hypothesis
Aggressive cue hypothesis (Berkowitz)
Social learning theory

Question 3

Instinct theory

Answer 3

We have a natural trait or predisposition to be aggressive. It can be genetically determined + we are born with a tendency to defend ourselves. Instinct theorists believe that inevitably aggression builds up within us. Once aggressive act occurs there is a cathartic effect = aggression real ease and we calm down
Drawbacks:
- doesn’t consider environmental effect on aggression
- people often experience increased aggression rather than cathartic effect
- suggests that as humans we are all genetically determined to behave aggressively

Question 4

Frustration-aggression hypothesis

Answer 4

When a performer has a drive to achieve a goal but is then stopped from achieving that goal, they experience aggression. Hypothesis = frustration always leads to an aggressive response.
Theory does not account for performers who:
- experience frustration + aggression even when goals have not been blocked
- have their goals blocked + experience frustration but do not react aggressively

Question 5

Aggressive cue hypothesis (Berkowitz)

Answer 5

Updated version of frustration-aggression hypothesis
When a performer has their goal blocked, their arousal levels increase and they experience frustration.
An aggressive act will only happen if learned cues or triggers are present

Question 6

Social learning theory

Answer 6

Opposes the trait approach to aggression + is based on the work of bandura. It asserts that aggression is learned by watching + copying the behaviour of others. If an aggressive act is reinforced or is successful, it is more likely to be copied.
Performers may also become aggressive due to socialisation.
Aggression is more likely to be copied if model shares similar characteristics with performer.
Theory doesn’t take into account any genetic explanations as to why aggression may happen.

Question 7

Strategies players can do to control aggression

Answer 7

Cognitive techniques:
- mental rehearsal
- Imagery
- visualisation
- selective attention
- negative thought stopping
- positive self-talk

Somatic techniques:
- relaxation techniques
- deep breathing
- biofeedback
- count to ten
- walk away
- mantra

Question 8

Strategies coaches can do to control aggression

Answer 8

• Praise non-aggressive acts
• highlight non-aggressive role models
• punish aggression
• use pee pressure to remind that aggression is unacceptable
• set process + performance goals
• give performer responsibility within team
• entire performer understands their role