Assertive Behaviors In Sports

Aggression is a set of behaviors that are likely to, or have the potential to, cause harm to others, are intended to cause harm, and are goal directed (Berkowitz, 1933). When it comes to sports, aggression can be seen on the field or amongst the fans. It can be a part of the reaction to something happening on the field, or it can be a component of the sport itself.

In sport it is important to understand the difference between aggressive and assertive behaviors. Assertive behaviors are actions, which do not intend to inflict harm, but are aimed at imposing traits such as influence and dominance (Weinberg, 2015). It is often heard coaches instructing their athletes to be more aggressive when they play. One would assume that these coaches are

not asking their players to physically harm their opponents but to intimidate them. There has always been aggression in sports. Some sports, such as rugby and lacrosse, were designed to be played to the death. Teaching children to regulate aggression rather than allowing them to be aggressive in sports is a good way to reinforce self-control.

A 2005 article published by The Journal of Sport Behavior titled The Differences in Sport Aggression, Life Aggression, and Life Assertion Among Adult Male and Female Collision, Contact, and Non-Contact Sport Athletes, which is a study that compares both male and female athletes across hostile aggression, sport instrumental aggression, life aggression, and life assertion.

This article explains how aggression is a negative personality trait and it is associated with sport participation (Keeler, 2005). The study ultimately revealed the only differences that were identified were that male and female athletes have varying levels of assertion, assault and indirect

hostility.

A 1999 article posted in the online journal of sports psychology, titled Aggression Among Athletes: An Asian versus American Comparison, analyzes the differences between Asian and American athletes. “Winning is considered the goal of sports. A significant component of the ability to win is aggression” (Ferraro, 1999). Sixty percent of Americans said they played their sport of choice because they enjoyed being competitive and aggressive. This study showed that aggression is built from other aspects from a person’s life and that growing up in a different environment with different rules and structured really effects the way a person deals with anger and portrays aggression (Ferraro, 1999).

There are two types of aggression, hostile aggression and instrumental aggression. Hostile aggression is aggression with the primary goal of an opposing player getting injured. Hostile aggressors find success when they see the pain and suffering they caused(Weinberg, 2015). Examples of hostile aggression are personal emotional arousal, and response to provocation. Instrumental aggression is aggression with the goal to achieve an outcome that is beneficial to the player or the team. Those who are driven by instrumental aggression have the goal of things like attention, cash payouts, or championships(Weinberg, 2015). Examples or instrumental aggression are things like planned aggressive attacks such as plays.

There are many theories of aggression and why it takes place in sports.

The of the most commonly referred to theories on this topic is the frustration aggression hypothesis, which was proposed, by Dollard, Doob, Miller, Mower and Sears in 1939. According to them frustration is often what leads to aggression. Research shows that frustration is more likely to lead to aggression if the aggressive behavior helps to relieve the frustration. They specifically state that frustration does not always result in aggression. There are specific identifiable circumstances where frustration turns into aggression. (Weinberg,

2015)

Another insightful theory is the social learning theory proposed by Bandura in 1977. This is a very commonly understood theory, which was tested using the bobo doll. In the experiment if the child viewed the adult punching the bobo doll the child would then punch the bobo doll, as well as if the child saw the adult hugging and being kind to the bobo doll the child was more likely to behave in a nurturing manner. What this showed is that children assumed that the appropriate way to behave is the way that they saw the adult act. This theory explains the social circumstances under which violent or aggressive acts may occur. (Weinberg, 2015)

A 1993 study conducted by Daniel Wann, looked into the aggression of highly identified sports fans. The article titled Aggression Among Highly Identified Spectators As A Function Of Their Need To Maintain Positive Social Identity, goes into detail about the aggression view from spectators of sport and why we tend to see this taking place. What was found is that spectators tend to lash out in public to protect their identity as a loyal fan. It is used as a function of self-esteem boosting. Fans identify as one with the team and take that pride to an aggressive and protective level. Almost as if a mother would do for her child.(Wann, 1993) The article also found that when faced with defeat the spectator is less likely to generate aggression towards others.

Since it is universally believed that stress leads to aggression in aspects of life, it is important to learn to manage stress and turn it into positive energy. If research in Sports Psychology would be shifted towards the coping process this might give elite players a way to deal with their sports aggression in ways they did not even know was possible. Although there are many outlets that this aggression could be coming from the only way to stop the aggression and turn it into an assertive behavior is for the individual to find their source and cope with it. Every human being is different which also means that there is no one solution to the issue of sports aggression.