“Aggression is behaviour with a goal of harming of injuring another being motivated to

avoid such treatment” (BTEC textbook (4)). There are three types of aggressive
behaviour, hostile and instrumental aggression, plus assertion. We have Gills criteria for
aggression, plus the causes of aggression; instinct theory, frustration-aggression theory
and social learning theory.

Firstly aggression falls into three categories, hostile and instrumental aggression and
assertion. To determine which behaviour we are talking about Gills Criteria (1980s)
comes into place. Gills criteria is a list of four point which determine whether we are
talking about aggression, or assertion. If one of these criteria is not met, assertion is
happening, however if all four are met, you can then decide whether the behaviour in
mind, is indeed hostile or instrumental. The four points are:

1. It is a form of behaviour: aggression can be either physical or verbal behaviour

2. It involves causing harm or injury: aggression is designed to cause either
physical or physiological harm.
3. The injury or harm is directed towards another being.
4. The aggression must be intentional: an accident cannot be classed as aggression.
(4)
So these four criteria (cited in textbook (4)) will help us determine between hostile and
instrumental aggression and assertion. Now aggressive behaviour is all about the
intention, not the outcome. Hostile aggression is “inflicting harm whether it is physical
or psychological, on someone else. It is sometimes referred to as reactive aggression and
can be accompanied by anger” (BTEC sport textbook (4)) a good example of this type
of aggression is Roy Keane (3). “Keane admitted in his book that he set out to injure
Haaland that day: ‘I’d waited long enough. I f****** hit him hard. The ball was there (I
think). Take that you c***.” (Daily Mail (1)). This shows that he set out to harm the
player, Haaland, and he wasn’t aiming for the ball at all. This suggests hostile
aggression as it was a reaction to their feud that had been going on for a while and
Keane reacted and intended harm.

Opposite to this type of aggression we have instrumental. “This is displaying aggressive

behaviour in the pursuit of a non-aggressive goal, sometimes referred to as channelled
aggression” (4). Now this type of aggression comes about mostly in contact sports. My
illustration is of Ryan Shawcross’s tackle on Aaron Ramsey. When you watch the video
of the tackle back (see reference list number 2) Shawcross is 100% going for the ball!
He isn’t aiming to harm or injure Ramsey, as you watch Ryan leave the pith, he is
wiping away tears in his eyes and looks distraught at the fact that he has done this to
another player. The players aren’t holding grudges and they both shake hands when
playing against each other. The tackle wasn’t a personal attack by Shawcross; it was
just two plays on separate teams going for the ball, and one coming out with a leg
broken in two places. That tackle was pretty rash, I must admit, but he wasn’t going
for the player out of anger, so it isn’t hostile aggression.

Assertive behaviour is different from aggression/aggressive behaviour because the play

is playing within the rules of the game. Assertive behaviour links to four main criteria:

 Is goal directed
 Not intended to harm or injure
 Uses only legitimate force (even if this amount could be classed as aggression in
a non-sport or non-game situation)
 Does not break any rules of the game
Behaviour in sport will come down to hostile, instrumental or assertive. When Gills
criteria are not matched 4/4 assertive behaviour is most likely. My example to help me
to understand this type of behaviour more is myself as a goalkeeper. There are
moments in the game when I come off my line to collect the ball, this is purely goal
directed and I have no intention to harm or injure the striker. When I collect the ball,
I may collide with the player or unintentionally hurt them if my leg is up. However, I
do not mean to, my goal is to get that football away from my goal; I don’t want to
hurt them in the process.

So far we’ve seen the types of aggression and aggressive behaviour, along with how to
differentiate between these behaviours. Now we can see the causes of aggression, the
three theories’ we are learning about are the instinct theory, the social learning theory
and the frustration-aggression theory.

Firstly the instinct theory, this suggests “we have an instinct to be aggressive that
builds until we can release that aggression in some way” (4). Mostly this aggression is
released in sport, or socially acceptable means…however there can be times when you
let it out on another being. For example you may be playing in the centre midfield in
football; they were beating you to the ball every single time, occasionally nicking your
ankles in the process….the next time an opportunity arises. You will snap, you will beat
them to the ball even if it means you clatter them in the process, teaching them to not
do it again. A lot of coaches say it’s all in the first tackle, or in the first cross. If you win
that first one, you set yourself up for the rest of the game, you are a foot in front of the
other, have shown them where you stand.
Secondly, the social learning theory, this states that “aggression is a behaviour that we
learn from observing others and experiencing reinforcement for such behaviours” (4).
For example a 10 year old could be sat watching his favourite player on television with
his friends and parents. If this player then makes an awful challenge, taking out the
opposition off the ball and doesn’t get a yellow/red card, and his parents and friends
cheer at this, he will be more likely to re-enact this behaviour when playing with his
own friends in the park. So the social learning theory, states that the reason for us
acting in an aggressive manner whilst playing sports or otherwise, is because we have
seen our idols and sporting heroes do the same, which has been applauded by friends,
family and others, making us think that it is acceptable and correct to do such a thing

The third theory is the frustration-aggression theory. This says that “aggression comes
from you being frustrated by not achieving goals or having progress towards a goal
blocked” (4). Now this theory doesn’t have a lot of support or evidence to back up the
theory, as when you begin to become frustrated, there are ways to control it, before it
gets to the aggression stage. There is a revised version which states the same, but
combines it with the social learning theory, saying that aggression occurs in certain
situations where you may become frustrated. If you cannot control this frustration and
what comes along with it (anger and arousal) it is then when you are likely to become
aggressive. “This theory states that you are only more likely to become aggressive if the
aggressive acts are supported” (4)

Now that we have an insight to what causes aggression, what the different types of
aggression are and how to clarify the aggression, we now need to see how it influences
the performance of the team and individual. As a team, when Shawcross and Keane
were sent off, their teams were now a player down, and were having to fight the game
with a player less than the other team. This has an influence especially if the team were
struggling in the process. Also the player, who initiates the foul of aggressive behaviour,
resulting in the opposition getting hurt, will cause a lot of psychological problems too.
Their players may think that they were stupid to lash out, making them resent their
teammate. The fans may boo him, and the media will have a field day. The lashing out
doesn’t just effect the injured player, but it also has an impact on the player
committing the challenge, once he’s cooled down they may regret their behaviour then
have to face the comments and thoughts from commentators, fans and other players.