Aggression

• Aggression

  An intent to harm outside the rules of the sport; hostile behaviour
• Assertion

  Well-motivated behaviour within the rules
• Aggression or assertion

  • A hard but fair tackle in Rugby
  • Punching someone after a foul in Netball
  • A 50/50 challenge in Hockey
  • A final knock-out punch in Boxing
  • A knee high tackle in Football
• Aggression should be unwelcome since it may result in injury and poor performance that is affected by over-arousal
• Assertion might be welcome since it is a display of well-motivated behaviour
• Aggression

  • Controlled
  • The intent to harm
  • Outside the rules
  • Reactive
  • Out of control
  • Deliberate and hostile
• Assertion

  • Generally within the rules
  • Well motivated
  • Goal-directed
  • Not intended to harm
• Aggression or assertion or both?
• In your own words, what does this diagram tell us?
• Instinct theory


  1. When aggression is spontaneous and innate

  2. Aggression can surface as a reaction to a bad foul; when the threat of injury is presented, you might react by defending yourself, perhaps through an aggressive act

  3. Catharsis: a release of frustration which leads to a feeling of wellbeing
• Early humans were not warriors but hunter gatherers
• Close evolutionary relatives such as gorillas, would also expected to be highly aggressive but they are not
• Human aggression is often not spontaneous
• Human aggression is often learned and many cultural differences back this up
• Modern psychologist view aggression often as being a learned response rather than a purely instinctive one
• Frustration-aggression hypothesis

  1. Drive to a goal

  2. Obstacle to a goal

  3. Frustration

  4. Aggression

  5. Punishment

  6. Catharsis

  7. Success
• Frustration will always lead to aggression
• Blocking of the goals an individual is trying to reach increases that individuals drive
• Aggression once initiated, will then reduce frustration
• If the performer is unable to release the aggressive drive, then a form of self-punishment will occur and even more frustration will lead to an increased aggressive drive
• Aggressive cue hypothesis


  1. An individual is frustrated = increase in arousal

  2. This leads to a predisposition or readiness for aggression

  3. If aggression is going to occur certain stimuli must be present that act as cues for the athlete

  4. The athlete then associates these cues with having to be aggressive
• Cues which would trigger an aggressive response for a team player

  • Boxing ring
  • Verbal abuse from an opponent
• Social learning theory


  1. Individuals will learn to be aggressive if they see significant others being aggressive or if their own aggression is reinforced by significant others

  2. Observe

  3. Reinforce

  4. Identify

  5. Copy
• Aggressive behaviour is more likely to be copied if it is consistent, powerful and bright
• The problem with this theory is aggression can be instinctive and reactive rather than being learned
• Some players react aggressively without being in a situation where they could observe and copy others
• AS IF!


  • A = Aggressive cue hypothesis
  • S = Social learning theory
  • I = Instinct theory
  • F = Frustration aggression theory
• Aggression is not desirable in sport because it can lead to injury, concentration issues, increased arousal and anxiety
• Who can play a big part in reducing aggression in sport

  • Referee
  • Coach
  • Players
• Ways to help control aggression in sport

  • Do not reinforce aggressive acts in training/match
  • Punish aggression with fines/bans
  • Send them off
  • Substitute them
  • Reinforce non-aggression
  • Talk to players
  • Promote peer-group pressure
  • Walk away
  • Apply the rules consistently and fairly
  • Use mental rehearsal/relaxation
  • Point out responsibilities
  • Point out non-aggressive role models
  • Set non aggressive goals
  • Channel aggression into assertion
  • Apply sanctions immediately
• Define aggression
• Characteristics of aggression


  • Outside the rules, out of control, intent to harm, reactive, deliberate and hostile
• Define assertion
• Characteristics of assertion


  • Controlled, well-motivated, within the rules, goal directed, not intended to harm
• Fill in this model
• In your own words, explain the question mark in this model
• Explain Instinct Theory (Lorenze 1966)
• As a coach you want to eliminate aggressive tendencies in your sport. Make recommendations of strategies that could be employed to combat aggression. Make sure an example from your sport is provided for each strategy