Aggression

Any form of behaviour directed towards the goal of harming/injuring someone

• Intention to harm outside laws/rules of game • Should be discouraged • E.g. Rugby player punching someone in scrum

• Card –> get sent off - limiting teams ability • Could get banned/fined

• Aggressive behaviour controlled and within law of game • Encouraged in contact sports to gain advantage • E.g. GK sliding taking ball before taking out player

• Views aggression as a natural response • Aggression instinctive • Trait and biological drive • Expects all humans (from all cultures) to display similar aggressive tendencies

• Aggressive impulses build up inside • If not released through aggressive acts will become dangerous to well-being

• Natural build-up of aggression needs release • Either through antisocial act OR more acceptable behaviour (e.g. sports)

• Learnt response rather than instinctive • Observation and and copying others (vicarious processes) • Or by reinforcement (direct / vicarious)

Frustration will always lead to aggression This is because any blocking of goals that an individual is trying to reach increases that individual’s drive, which in turn increases aggression

Aggression, once initiated, will reduce frustration, leading to catharsis

• Drive to goal • Obstacle to Goal • Frustration • Aggression –> this will then lead to either… 1. success and catharsis 2. Punishment and back to frustration

• When an individual is frustrated there is an increase in arousal level • This creates a predisposition/readiness for aggression • If aggression is going to occur then certain stimuli must be present that act as cues for athlete (associate cue with being aggressive)