The Catharsis Effect
- Release of pent-up frustration makes one feel better 😌 💢🧘♂️
- Purging anger from not achieving a goal 🏆➡️😡
- Venting on objects (punching bag 🥊) can help
- Venting on humans ❌ leads to more aggression ⚡😠
- Aggression increases aggression 🔄🔥
Measurement of Aggression
Inventories to measure aggressiveness 📏:
- Aggression Questionnaire (Buss & Perry, 1992) 📝
- Aggression Inventory (Gladue, 1991) 📋
Sport-specific inventories:
- Athletic Aggression Inventory (Bredemeier, 1978) 🏅
- Continuum of Injurious Acts (Bredemeier, 1985) ⚠️
Measurement is difficult because aggression = intent to harm another 🥊
Fan Violence
- Fans can be highly aggressive 😡 👥💥
- High anger + physical aggression disposition ⚡
- False belief that others will join violence 🤷♂️
- Fans may instigate fights at events 🏟️
Effects of Aggression on Performance
- Aggression can distract the individual and team 🧠💥 ⚠️🏆
- Teams lower in standings are more likely to engage in aggression 📉🔥
Situational Factors in Sport Settings
- Environmental temperature 🌡️ – Higher temps → more aggression ⚾🔥
- Perception of victim's intent 👀 – If opponent seems aggressive → more likely to retaliate 🥊
- Fear of retaliation 😨 – Can inhibit aggression ⚠️
- Structure of the game 🏟️ – Score differential affects aggression; tied games = less aggression ⚖️
- Rivalry & familiarity 🤝 – More rivalry/frequent play → more aggression ⚡
- Goal orientation 🎯 – Ego-oriented → lower respect for rules; Task-oriented → higher sportsmanship 🤝✅
Reducing Aggression in Sport
- Anger awareness training & role-playing help control hostility 😌🎭 ✋🧘♂️
- Promote nonaggressive assertive behavior 💪✅
Curtailing Aggression and Violence by Athletes
- Provide models of nonaggressive but effective assertiveness 🏅 🏃♂️❌
- Aggressive acts → severe penalties ⚖️
- Punishment > reward for aggression ⚡
- Reward restraint & patience in emotional situations 🏆😌
Curtailing Aggression and Violence by Fans
- Supervise troublemakers closely 🔍 👥❌
- Limit/control alcohol at events 🍺🚫
- Promote family-friendly events 👨👩👧👦
- Media should avoid glamorizing violence 📺❌
- Swift & severe punishment for aggressive fans ⚡
Summary
This chapter continued the examination of aggression and violence in sport, covering the catharsis effect (release of pent-up frustration makes one feel better, purging anger from not achieving goals, venting on objects like punching bags can help but venting on humans leads to more aggression - aggression increases aggression), measurement of aggression through general inventories (Aggression Questionnaire by Buss & Perry 1992, Aggression Inventory by Gladue 1991) and sport-specific inventories (Athletic Aggression Inventory by Bredemeier 1978, Continuum of Injurious Acts by Bredemeier 1985) noting measurement is difficult because aggression equals intent to harm another, fan violence characteristics (highly aggressive with high anger and physical aggression disposition, false belief others will join violence, may instigate fights at events), effects of aggression on performance (can distract individual and team, teams lower in standings more likely to engage in aggression), six situational factors (environmental temperature, perception of victim's intent, fear of retaliation, structure of the game with score differential and tied games showing less aggression, rivalry and familiarity, goal orientation with ego-oriented showing lower respect for rules while task-oriented showing higher sportsmanship), reducing aggression through anger awareness training and role-playing to control hostility and promoting nonaggressive assertive behavior, curtailing athlete aggression through four strategies (providing nonaggressive assertive models, severe penalties for aggressive acts, punishment over reward for aggression, rewarding restraint and patience), and curtailing fan aggression through five strategies (supervising troublemakers closely, limiting/controlling alcohol, promoting family-friendly events, media avoiding glamorizing violence, swift and severe punishment for aggressive fans).