Aggression

Question 1

What are three types of aggression?

Answer 1

Hostile aggression
Instrumental Channelled
Assertion

Question 2

What is hostile aggression?

Answer 2

Intent to harm and outside the rules of the game

Question 3

What is assertion?

Answer 3

forceful behaviour within the rules and no intent to harm

Question 4

What is instrumental aggression

Answer 4

using aggression as a tool or means to achieve a specific goal within the rules of a sport, rather than solely causing harm

Question 5

What are the four theory for aggression?

Answer 5

• Instinct theory
• Frustration-aggression theory
• Aggressive cue hypothesis
• Social learning theory

Question 6

What is instinct theory in aggression?

Answer 6

• Based on personality
• suggests aggression behaviour is innate, instinctive and is important for the well-being and evolutionary development of our species
• Freud proposed aggression is due to our evolutionarydevelopment, our need to dominate and defend territory (animal instinct).
• Lorenz (1966) said that humans build up ‘aggressiveenergy’within us that has to be released tomaintain ourwell-being, either through an anti-social act or via a moreacceptable behaviour, such as sport performance.

Question 7

Evaluate instinct theory

Answer 7

-ve
* Human aggression is often not spontaneous/instinctive
* Doesn’t consider the idea that aggression can be learned and linked to cultural norms.
* Levels of aggression tend to increase during sportingparticipation rather than decrease

Question 8

What is frustration-aggression hypothesis

Answer 8

1. This theory states that if we have a goal, we have a drive to achieve it (need to win!)
2. If this drive towards achievement is blocked, or an obstacle is put in place, this will cause frustration, ultimately leading to aggressive behaviour (always, according to Dollard - 1939).
3. Once aggression has been initiated (released), frustration will decrease, leading to Catharsis (the release of frustration leading to a feeling of well-being).
4. However if aggression is punished, it leads to further frustration.

Question 9

Evaluate frustration-aggression hypothesis

Answer 9

-ve
* Frustration does not necessarily always lead to aggression in human nature
* Likewise, aggression can occur with no evidence of frustration
* It does not account for situational factors or individualdifferences.

Question 10

What is aggressive cue hypothesis?

Answer 10

• When frustrated, arousal levels increase, creating a readiness for aggression.
• For the aggressive act to occur, the individual must succumb to certain stimuli / cues (something that will trigger aggression).
• E.g. cues = Being abused, being fouled, conceding a goal, a teammate not passing to you, missing an easy shot etc…

Question 11

Evaluate aggressive cue hypothesis

Answer 11

+ve
* This is amore valuable explanationof aggression thanearlier theories.
* Rather than simply being an innate response to an externalstimulus, aggression isactually linkedto learningand willoccur only when suitable environmental cuesare present.

Question 12

What is social learning theory in aggression?

Answer 12

• Bandura (1977) believes that aggression is learned, rather than being instinctive.
• We learn and behave by copying thebehaviourof others.
• E.g. If we observe role models / significant others being aggressive, we are likely toimitate thatbehaviour.
• If reinforced or seen to not be punished, the copied actions are repeated in similarsituations, known asvicarious experience

Question 13

Evaluate social learning theory

Answer 13

+ve
* a more rounded response that takes into consideration that aggression is learned,

-ve
* disputes the idea of natural aggression anddoes not fully explain how some people may be aggressivewithout observing others if placed in a particular situation.
* Is also an optimistic view. If sports people can learn aggressive behaviours, then it must be true that they can learn non-aggressive tendencies also.

Question 14

What are the other causes of aggression?

Answer 14

• The desire to win (e.g. injuring the opponents best player)
• Participants coached to use violence
• Aggression can be a trait of a person (naturally aggressive)
• Competition (e.g. top vs bottom, compared to a local Derby etc…)
• Fans may expect aggression / violence.

Question 15

How can we reduce aggression

Answer 15

• Control arousla levels through stress management techniques
• Avoid situations that initiate aggressive responses
• Punish aggression/ remove aggressive performers completely
• Reinforce non-aggressive acts
• Show non-aggressive role models
• Increase peer pressure to be non-aggressive
• Give or highlight player responsibility to behave a certin way (role model)