Aggressiveness
in Sports
Sports aggression according to psychology is behavior
directed to the target means to an end. Other definitions of aggression
incorporate the notion of intent to cause harm. It’s a behavior to be
classified as aggressive, the perpetrator must have the intent to harm the
victim. This definition rules out some behaviors that we might normally think
are aggressive.
For example, a football player who accidentally breaks the
leg of another player or a driver who accidentally hits a pedestrian would not
be our definition of aggression because harm was already done, but there's no
intent.
Many people ask if playing football makes you violent? Well,
physical pain is part of the game in football, however, being aggressive is
another story because most of the aggressive players don’t stay in the field. If the
players use aggression recklessly during a game, it will affect their performance, but if they used in a controlled manner this aggression can turn
into a positive way and help them play more competently.
Even though controlled aggression does help in certain
circumstances of the game, it is also crucial that you control your emotions
and don’t get too frustrated because it may lead to dangerous tackles, arguing
with refereeing decisions and subsequently being booked or even sent off.
Deferent Type of Aggression in Football
- HOSTILE
Hostile Aggression is a behavior that prompted by a desire
to hurt someone. It is a serious behavior driven by frustration which normally
involves anger and its primary aim is to hurt the player.
- INSTRUMENTAL
Instrumental Aggression is an aggressive behavior intended
to achieve a goal. When a player receives a reward because of a deviant
aggressive act, he or she will be conditioned towards committing that action
again when triggered to obtain than previously possessed reward.
Developing Aggression in a Young Footballer.
Youth violence can partially be discovered due to pressure
from the parents and coaches to perform well in the competition. Even
researchers, as well as media, have been told by participants that children's
behavior in sports is influenced by their parents. It is also found that
coaches and parents are placing a higher emphasis on winning than performing
well and showing sportsmanship. The athletes are pushed to perform and compete
at levels beyond their skill to perform well for professional sports. This
pressure can push the youth to their breaking point. This prompts them to act
vigorously if they feel it will help them to appear more successful.
The coaches who place a higher emphasis on winning, tend to
ignore the importance of sportsmanship in youth sports. Athletes will
intentionally hurt a good player from the other team to prevent them from
returning to the game, thus increasing their chances of winning.
The lack of sportsmanship will also lead to a fight as
evidence in the case of the youth football player that triggers the winning
team taunting the losing team. The youth will tend to react by doing what they
perceive the coach values, often prompting unsportsmanlike conduct such as
arguing, fighting, or other violent acts. Poor influence from a role model is
another way in which youth athletes view violence in sports. The coaches are
viewed as role models for young athletes, and this behavior encourages more
from the children.
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