Y12 - Aggression

 Use each of the theories to explain the aggression / assertion in the video below.

Questions:

1. Some team players display unwanted aggression. What are the possible causes of such aggression? (4 marks)
2. Explain in more detail what is meant by social learning when applied to aggression.  How can aggressive tendencies be eliminated in a sports situation? (12 marks)
3. Using examples from sport, explain the frustration aggressive hypothesis. (4 marks)
4. Using examples from sporting situations, explain what is meant by instrumental, hostile and assertive behaviour. (9 marks)

Using the videos below, explain which theory of aggression may explain the aggressive / assertive behaviour that is demonstrated.

Methods to Reduce Aggression:

Coaches and players have a moral responsibility to reduce aggressive behaviours in sport, because they are role models for youngsters who play the sport. National Governing Bodies like the FAW and WRU have a major role in reducing aggression and poor behaviour in professional players in an attempt to stop children learning aggressive behaviours from their heroes. Aggression is often a result of over-arousal, this can be manifested cognitive or somatic effects. Players and coaches can use cognitive techniques, which are methods that focus on psychological arousal; they are focused on the ‘mind’ of the performer.

Somatic methods focus on reducing physiological arousal. In controlling this arousal an aggressive performer may contain their aggressive tendencies and not act aggressively.

Examiner Tip

There are many different methods that can be used to reduce or eliminate aggression. If writing about this topic in the exam try to ensure you describe enough points to score full marks. Don’t spend too much time outlining how one or two methods are effective if the question is a 4 to 6 marks question. However, remember to use relevant practical examples. For example don’t just write ‘a coach should punish a player who was sent off for being sent off’. Outline how they could be punished, e.g. fined by the club (if professional), has to pay their own fine (if semi-professional) or internal suspension from training or matches.

Coaches and managers can help to reduce the incidences of aggression by:

  Having performers agree to behaviour contracts.

§       Punishing performers who are aggressive, even if they are not punished by the official at the time for example fines or suspensions. If a manager tells a player who is overly aggressive to leave the club this helps to show the other players that aggressive actions will not be tolerated.

§       Substituting the player or changing their position/role.

§       Giving aggressive players a position of responsibility, thus making them a role model, e.g. making them captain,

§       Positively reinforce non-aggressive players. For example praise a player who makes a strong but fair challenge on an opponent.

§       Show the players positive role models who are successful without being aggressive. For example Jonny Wilkinson always plays hard and rarely makes tackles that are outside the laws of the game.

§       Educating the players about aggression; telling players why opponents try to wind them up and why it is important to play hard but fair may stop them getting aggressive.

Good referees can also help to reduce the amount of aggression shown by players. They can do this by talking to players and warning them that they will be sent off if they act aggressively and this could help to calm them down. Punishing players, for example sending them to the sin bin or in hockey giving them a green card, shows to other players that aggressive acts will not be tolerated. Giving sanctions early in the game also helps to control the players. Being consistent with implementing the rules and making good decisions decreases players’ frustrations, possibly decreasing arousal and aggression.


Watch the video and answer the questions:

1. What factors resulted in the incident occurring? 

2. How would you advise the player in future to control his aggression, as a coach? 

Hockey Fight