Fan Aggression in Sport
Position Statements
Aggression and Violence in Sport: AN ISSP Position Stand
Prepared by Gershon Tenenbaum, Evan Stewart (University of Southern Queensland Australia), Robert N. Singer (University of Florida, USA), Joan Duda (Purdue University, USA)
Aggression has long been a part of the sport domain. Indeed, Russell (1993; p.191) suggested that outside of wartime, sports is perhaps the only setting in which acts of interpersonal aggression are not only tolerated but enthusiastically applauded by large segments of society. In recent years, however, violence in sport, both on and off the field, has come perceived as a social problem. For instance, commissions have been appointed in Canada, England and Australia to investigate violence in the athletic setting (National Committee on Violence, 1989; Pipe, 1993). In the United States, Canada, Germany, England and Australia, court cases have been heard concerning the sport-related victims or perpetrators of aggressive acts (e.g., see Murphy, 1988).
Aggression is defined as the infliction of an aversive stimulus, physical, verbal, or gestural, upon one person by another. Aggression is not an attitude but behavior and, most critically, it is reflected in acts committed with the intent to injure (LeUnes & Nation, 1989). This definition of aggression includes such wide ranging acts, engaged by athletes, coaches and/or spectators, as physically hitting another individual and verbal abuse.
Aggressive behavior can be classified according to the primary reinforcement sought via the act. Hostile aggression is where the principal reward, or intent, is to inflict upon another for its own sake. Instrumental aggression, on the other hand, is where the major reinforcement is the achievement of a subsequent goal. I this case, an athlete may intend to injure the opponent, but the most important goal to be achieved by the aggression acts is to win the competition, to be acknowledged by the coach, and the like.
Violence
Aggression and Violence in Sport: AN ISSP Position Stand
Prepared by Gershon Tenenbaum, Evan Stewart (University of Southern Queensland Australia), Robert N. Singer (University of Florida, USA), Joan Duda (Purdue University, USA)
Aggression has long been a part of the sport domain. Indeed, Russell (1993; p.191) suggested that outside of wartime, sports is perhaps the only setting in which acts of interpersonal aggression are not only tolerated but enthusiastically applauded by large segments of society. In recent years, however, violence in sport, both on and off the field, has come perceived as a social problem. For instance, commissions have been appointed in Canada, England and Australia to investigate violence in the athletic setting (National Committee on Violence, 1989; Pipe, 1993). In the United States, Canada, Germany, England and Australia, court cases have been heard concerning the sport-related victims or perpetrators of aggressive acts (e.g., see Murphy, 1988).
Aggression is defined as the infliction of an aversive stimulus, physical, verbal, or gestural, upon one person by another. Aggression is not an attitude but behavior and, most critically, it is reflected in acts committed with the intent to injure (LeUnes & Nation, 1989). This definition of aggression includes such wide ranging acts, engaged by athletes, coaches and/or spectators, as physically hitting another individual and verbal abuse.
Aggressive behavior can be classified according to the primary reinforcement sought via the act. Hostile aggression is where the principal reward, or intent, is to inflict upon another for its own sake. Instrumental aggression, on the other hand, is where the major reinforcement is the achievement of a subsequent goal. I this case, an athlete may intend to injure the opponent, but the most important goal to be achieved by the aggression acts is to win the competition, to be acknowledged by the coach, and the like.
Violence