Use Psychological Theories to Explain Aggressive Behaviour

Use Psychological theories to explain aggressive behaviour. Describe three method’s a coach might use to eliminate aggressive tendencies of performers and to encourage an active and healthy lifestyle. (6 Marks) Aggression is the attempt to harm outside the rules of the game. There are many different theories of how aggression is formed. Instinct theory was proposed by Freud and is the trait view of behavior and shows the drawbacks of this perspective, that behaviour is at all time predictable.It proposes that aggression is genetically inherited and that a violent trait lies within everyone. Freud called this innate characteristic the ‘death instinct’, which purpose is to seek aggressive destruction. Lorenze put foreward the idea that aggressive energy is constantly building and needs to be released. Bandura presented the social learning theory, which has the view that all behaviour is learnt. Aggression is not a genetically based innate characteristic but it nurtu red by the external environmental factors.So aggression can therefore be learned by watching and copying from role models and becomes an acceptable way to behave if it is reinforced. Aggression is likely to occur if it is part of the social and cultural norm of a group. The Frustration aggression hypothesis was proposed by Dollard, he proposed that frustration develops when goal-directed behaviour or need to achieve is blocked. The tendency towards frustration is increased when the pursued goal reflects ego or outcome orientation. Frustration occurs from environmental situations such as defeat, good opposition and poor officiating.This is a integrationist theory because frustration generated by the environment triggers the aggressive gene. If the aggressive act is successful, frustration is released and the aggressor feels good. This is known as a cathartic release. But if the aggression fails and results in punishment, further frustration is generated. The aggression cue hypothesis theory presents a second integrationist perspective and builds upon Dollard’s work. Berkowitz believed that frustration lead to an increase in arousal.However, he disagrees that frustration alone will always trigger aggression. He proposed that frustration creates a readiness for aggression, which is triggered when a provocative environmental cue is present. Aggressive cues such as perceived unfairness for example; biased officiators will trigger aggression in sport if arousal among participants is high. However, better players have the capacity to control frustration and arousal. A coach could introduce some cognitive strategies to lower psychological arousal such as counting to ten to regain composure.They could introduce somatic methods to eliminate aggression such as relaxation techniques and breathing techniques to calm down. The aggressive person could also be given a role of responsibility or shown that dysfunctional behaviour will be punished, for example in a match aggressive behaviour will not be tolerated and the player will be substituted. But also non-aggressive behaviour should be positively reinforced. Emphasis on non-aggressive role models will help to eliminate aggressive behaviour. The control of aggression positively promoted an active and healthy lifestyle.

The Battle of Alamo essays

The Battle of Alamo essays The myth and legend of the Alamo is the creation story of Texas, central to the Texas legend itself, and it is a legend which continues growing, capturing the imagination of people around the world. San Antonio and the Alamo played a critical role in the Texas Revolution. The siege and final battle of the Alamo in 1836 constitute the most celebrated military engagement in Texas history. After losing San Antonio to the Texans, Mexican General Santa Anna determined to retake this key location and at the same time impress upon the Texans the futility of further resistance to Mexican rule. With these goals, the vanguard of Santa Anna's army arrived in San Antonio. About 187 Texans in the area took refuge in the fortified grounds of Alamo, under the joint command of William Travis. The battle was conspicuous for the large number of illustrious personalities among its combatants. As the defenders saw it, the Alamo was the key to the defense of Texas, and they were ready to give their lives rather than surrender their position to General Santa Anna. Among the Alamo's heroes were Jim Bowie, and David Crockett. Only 187 rebels fought off a large number of Mexican soldiers. During the battle, all the Alamo defenders died to the last man. Several non-combatants were spared, including Susanna Dickenson, the wife of one of the defenders, partly to reinforce his goal of terrorizing colonists in Texas; Santa Anna released this small party to inform Texans of the fate of the defenders. ...