Aggression

Question 1

What is aggression and what are some characteristics?

Answer 1

• an act with intent to harm outside of the laws of the game
• reactive
• out of control
• deliberate
• hostile

Question 2

What is assertion?

Answer 2

• a forceful well motivated act within the rules of the game
• goal directed
• controlled
• more effort than normal exerted
• no intent to harm

Question 3

What are the causes of aggression?

Answer 3

• playing badly
• feeling that teammates are not trying
• disagreement with officials
• provocation by crowd or opponent
• importance of game
• local derby
• cultural reasons (celtics Vs rangers)
• contact sport
• naturally aggressive personality
• social learning
• over-arousal

Question 4

What are the theories of aggression?

Answer 4

• instinct theory
• frustration agression theory
• aggressive cue hypothesis
• social learning theory

Question 5

Explain the instinct theory of aggression

Answer 5

• all performers have a natural predisposition to be aggressive
• genetically determined
• natural tendancy to defend ouselves
• aggression builds and when provoked performer reacts aggressively
• once aggressive act occurs there is a cathartic effect
• once aggression is released performer feels calmer

Question 6

What are the issues with the instinct theory of aggression?

Answer 6

• does not consider effect of the environment on aggression
• not all aggression is reactive
• some have increased aggression during a game rather than experiencing catharsis
• some people never act aggressive

Question 7

Explain the frustration-agression hypothesis

Answer 7

• performer has drive to achieve a goal
• if stopped from achieving goal they experience frustration
• frustration always leads to aggressive response
• if aggressive act is successful catharsis occurs
• frustration and aggression are reduced
• if aggression is not released frustration builds
• results in further aggression

Question 8

What are the issues with the furstration aggression hypothesis?

Answer 8

• not all frustration leads to aggression
• performers experience frustration/aggression even when goals have not been blocked
• perfomrer have goals blocke and experience frustration but do not react aggressively

Question 9

Explain the aggressive cue hypothesis

Answer 9

• continuation of frustration aggression hypothesis
• when goal is blocked arousal levels increase
• performer experiences frustration
• leads to them being ready for an aggressive act
• aggressive act will only occur if learned cues or triggers are present

Question 10

Explain the social learning theory of aggression

Answer 10

• aggression is a learned response
• if an aggressive act is rienforced it is more likely to be coppied
• learned through observations
• more likely to be coppied from MKO
• perfomer becomes aggressive due to socialisation

Question 11

What are the issues with the social learning theory of aggression?

Answer 11

• does not consider genetic explanations
• some react aggressively without being in a situation where they could observe such behaviour
• aggression can be instinctive and reactive rather than learned

Question 12

What are the stategies to control agression, cognitive techniques?

Answer 12

• mental rehearsal
• imagery
• visualisation
• selective attention
• negative thought stopping
• positive self talk

Question 13

What are the stategies to control agression, somatic techniques?

Answer 13

• relaxation techniques
• deep breathing
• biofeedback
• counting to ten
• walking away
• mantra
• displacing agressive feelings by playing hard

Question 14

What are the stategies to control agression that coaches can do?

Answer 14

• praise non-aggressive acts
• punish aggression
• highlight non-aggressive role models
• use peer pressure to remind aggression is unacceptable
• set process and performance goals
• ensure own behaviour is not aggressive
• give performer responsibility
• ensure performer understands their specific role