Aggression

What Aggression covers

Aggression is examined in Component 2, Psychological and social principles of physical education. It covers aggression and assertion in sport, types of aggression, theories of aggression: Lorenz, Bandura, Dollard and Berkowitz and causes of aggression and strategies to reduce it.

The 4 subtopics

Each one has its own page.

• Aggression and assertion in sportAggression and assertion and the differences between them, the hard but fair rugby tackle, aggression and assertion by players, coaches and spectators, intent, and why coaches value assertion.Open →
• Types of aggressionHostile, instrumental, reactive and channelled aggression with examples of each, why instrumental aggression is still unacceptable, the problem of reactive aggression, and how channelled aggression relates to assertion.Open →
• Theories of aggression: Lorenz, Bandura, Dollard and BerkowitzLorenz's instinct theory and catharsis, Bandura's social learning theory and the Bobo doll study, Dollard's frustration-aggression hypothesis, Berkowitz's aggressive cue hypothesis, nature and nurture, the netball shooter and an ice hockey fight.Open →
• Causes of aggression and strategies to reduce itOver-arousal, moral reasoning and bracketed morality, situational causes, and reducing aggression through punishment, role models, stress management, responsibility, officials and spectator measures, with the hockey player who retaliates.Open →

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Take Aggression further

The same content, four other ways.

Commonly confused

Pairs that lose marks when they are blurred together.

• Aggression vs Assertion

  Aggression: conduct intended to hurt someone, usually outside the rules. Assertion: forceful, legal, goal-directed play with no intent to hurt.

• Hostile aggression vs Instrumental aggression

  Hostile aggression: harm done with injury as the main aim, usually in anger. Instrumental aggression: harm used only as a means of winning or gaining an advantage.

• Reactive aggression vs Channelled aggression

  Reactive aggression: retaliation in response to provocation or frustration. Channelled aggression: strong emotion directed into legal, forceful play.

Questions from this topic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1. 1

   What is aggression in sport?

   Model answer

   Aggression is behaviour intended to harm another person, physically or psychologically. Aggression usually breaks the rules of the game.

2. 2

   What is assertion?

   Model answer

   Assertion is forceful, goal-directed behaviour within the rules. Assertion carries no intent to harm.

3. 3

   What are the key differences between aggression and assertion?

   Model answer

   Aggression intends harm and usually breaks the rules. Assertion has no intent to harm and stays within the rules.

4. 4

   Is a hard but fair rugby tackle aggressive or assertive?

   Model answer

   A hard, fair rugby tackle is assertive. The tackle is legal and aims to win the ball, with no intent to injure.

5. 5

   Give an example of player aggression.

   Model answer

   A footballer who stamps on an opponent after a tackle is being aggressive. The act is deliberate and meant to hurt.

6. 6

   How can a coach show aggression?

   Model answer

   A coach may verbally abuse officials or players from the touchline. A coach may also encourage players to injure opponents.

What is inside Levo

Six ways to work the same material.

Aggression revision questions

What does Aggression cover in Edexcel A-Level Physical Education?

4 subtopics: aggression and assertion in sport, types of aggression, theories of aggression: lorenz, bandura, dollard and berkowitz and causes of aggression and strategies to reduce it. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.

How is Aggression organised?

By the Edexcel 9PE0 specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.