Personality and aggression

• Aggression


  An element of aggression may be required in order to succeed or win in the vast majority of sports
• Direct aggression


  Where there is actual physical contact between performers, the 'aggression' uses physical contact to directly and deliberately inflict harm upon their opponent
• Direct aggression


  • Rugby high tackle
  • Boxer punching below the belt
• Indirect aggression


  Does not involve physical contact, the aggressive act is taken out on an object to gain an advantage over an opponent, they do not physically harm or injure and the act may be within the rules of the sport, the 'harm' is usually mental harm, it makes the opponent's feel less confident or worried
• Indirect aggression


  • Smashing a badminton shuttle really hard to win a point but also damaging the other players confidence
• Introvert


  Doesn't need a high level of arousal, can become over aroused when over stimulated, tend to be shy, quiet, thoughtful and solitary (enjoy being on their own)
• Sports suited to introverts

  • Individual sports as they are self-motivated and don't need others to motivate them
  • Concentration/precision (fine skills)
  • Low arousal required
• Extrovert


  Needs high levels of arousal, can lack concentration and often seek exciting situations, enjoy interacting with others/ sociable/ aroused by others, often enthusiastic/ talkative, prone to boredom when isolated
• Sports suited to extroverts


  • Team sports when there is a fast pace, concentration may need to be low and gross skills are used, often leaders within a team
• Introvert


  • Pistol shooting
  • Shy
  • Calm
  • Snooker player
• Extrovert


  • Seek excitement
  • Rugby player
  • Sociable