KIN 3305 1st Edition Lecture 22 Violence in Sports Outline of Previous Lecture I Personal Commentary II Overconformity and the Sport Ethic III Several Major Reasons for Athlete Overconformity IV Overconformity to the Sport Ethic V Concluding Points Outline of Current Lecture I Key Terms II Perspective 1 Drive Discharge Instinct Theory III Perspective 2 IV Instinct Theory Current Lecture I II Key Terms a Violence i Use of excessive physical force potential to cause harm ii Deviant behavior but may be deemed necessary to preserve order b Aggression i Verbal or physical actions grounded in an intent to dominate control or do harm to another person ii All behavior intended to destroy another person s property or injure a person psychologically or physically c Intimidation i Verbal or physical behaviors that threaten violence ii Usually does not cause physical harm or injury but may cause emotional or psychological harm Perspective 1 Drive Discharge Instinct Theory a Sports provide healthy outlets for individuals to let off steam release feelings of aggression and learn to cope with stressful situations i Has received a considerable amount of research attention over the years These notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor s lecture GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes not as a substitute III IV V VI VII VIII Perspective 2 Cultural Pattern Model a Sports arouse aggressive tendencies and behaviors in players and fans b Sports may teach individuals that success often quires aggressive tactics Instinct Theory a Sport viewed ad having a cathartic effect b Proponents view sport as a safe haven to release destructive energy or pent up emotions c Some theorists believe that both players and spectators safely release energy via sport d Catharsis the perceived safe release of unwanted or undesirable energy Basic Assumption a Humans are instinctively aggressive and certain sports namely contact sports provide a safe outlet for aggressive tendencies and behaviors Shortcomings a Limited data suggesting that aggressive behavior in humans is the product of biologically based destructive energies b Assumes that all sports provide safe outlets for aggressive energies for both players and spectators c Research does not substantiate the cathartic effect sport supposedly has d Vigorous physical exertion in sports may make people less violent due to physiological or biochemical changes in the body some research tends to support this theory Morgan 1984 Research Suggested a Vigorous exercise is related to the reduction of muscular tension certain forms of anxiety depression b The question centers around whether the changes bring about the positive effects or whether there are other factors e g time advice etc c Some researchers suggest that time may be a factor which gives individuals the perceived less aggressive tendencies cool down time i Rethinking a response d Others contend that it may be a combination of factors i Time away from an anxiety provoking situation ii Focusing attention in other directions iii Physical exertion e These factors may lead to less aggressive tendencies Key Points a It is a misnomer to suggest that merely engaging in a sport or physical activity actually leads to lower levels of aggression b For example do you think that a very competitive player whose self worth selfidentity or ego is tied to a sport will be less aggressive if he she chooses to use their sport to minimize aggression and they lose a game or match to a marginal opponent IX X XI XII XIII i In this situation frustration due to performance outcomes may heighten anxiety and aggression Smith 1983 a Noted that there does not appear to be any evidence that indicates that watching sports serves to eliminate the frustrations of spectators Controlling Aggressive Behavior a Aggressive tendencies and deviant behavior may be controlled via various sport forms Nosanchuck Trulson Wacquant b For example boxing and the martial arts are visible forums that can encourage individuals to control and manage violence c Researchers contend that the philosophy within the sport form is an essential element as well as the conditions under which sport participation occurs Trulson Study 1986 a Studied three groups of male juvenile delinquents and Tae Kwon Do b Found a decrease in aggressive tendencies when training included a sports philosophy c When training did not include a sport philosophy aggressive tendencies tended to increase among similar individuals Research a Researchers suggest that there may be a disconnect between what coaches purport to teach in contact oriented sports and what they actually teach b Ex Coaches often hail football as a sport that teaches discipline and self control Yet the coaching manner and approach may foster and support hostility and physical domination of opponents c Ex Women who attended a game in New Jersey went onto the field to argue the umpire s call She argued about an individual being thrown out Resisted arrest d Ex Fan attacked one of the Astros players on the field Frustration and Aggression a Frustration often accompanies sport participation i May lead to aggressive violent acts b According to Berkowitz two things are necessary for frustration to lead to aggression i The frustration must give rise to an emotional response of anger ii The situation must contain opportunities and stimulus cues for aggressive behavior c The combination of anger opportunities to be aggressive and the existence of stimulus cues like things that can be used as tools of violence increase the likelihood of aggressive behaviors i Anger and violence are apt to occur when players feel they are victims of unfair calls by referees and tactics by opponents ii Aggressive tendencies are most apt to occur in heavy contact sports XIV iii Stimulus cues are strongest in sports which use equipment that can be turned into weapons eg hockey sticks baseballs football helmets etc d Note anger plus opportunities and stimulus cues do not automatically lead to violence they only increase the likelihood that violence may occur Spectator Aggression or Fan Violence a Several things frequently exist when frustration among fans leads to aggression i Significant identification with a participant or team ex soccer hooligans ii Anger must be the dominant emotional response among the fans iii Opportunities for aggression and or stimulus cues must be present b Google Lopez S Respect Me Respect my Heroes c Fan
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