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A relationship between contact level in sport and aggression has been found in previous literature (Bredemeier, Weiss, Shields, & Copper, 1986; Silva, 1983; Tucker & Parks, 2001). Presently, a study has yet to compare adult aggression scores for both men and women in the same contact sport types. This study was intended to compare both female and male collision, contact, and non-contact sport athletes across sport hostile aggression, sport instrumental aggression, life aggression, and life assertion. Results indicated that life aggression, life assertion, sport hostile aggression, and sport instrumental aggression did not vary among different contact sport levels. Significant gender differences were found in life assertion and two subscales of life aggression. Relationships between aggression and assertion variables were explored.
Aggression is a negative personality trait that has been associated with sport participation. Aggression is operationally defined as an intentional physically or psychologically harmful behavior that is directed at another living organism (Thirer, 1993). The frequency of aggression in sports on all levels has led to a great deal of academic research. Even the International Society of Sport Psychology recently recognized that sport aggression has become a social problem both on and off the playing field and has recommended ways to curtail this behavior (Tenenbaum, Stewart, Singer, & Duda, 1997). The particulars of this position have recently been challenged (Kerr, 1999), reaffirmed (Tenenbaum, Sacks, Miller, Golden, & Doolin, 2000), and clarified (Kerr, 2002).
Aggression has been studied on many levels including behavior within the context of sport and within daily life. A popular theory explaining aggression is the Revised FrustrationAggression Theory (Berkowitz, 1965). This theory consists of aspects from Bandura's (1973) Social Learning Theory and Smith's (1972) theory on frustration and aggression. Berkowitz proposed that either frustration or another stimulus (e.g., threat) increases a person's arousal and anger levels, which increases one's readiness to aggress. However, aggression will only occur if the person has learned the appropriateness of such behavior in that specific situation. In other words, aggression not only depends on the strength of the association between the situation and aggressive behavior, but also the degree of readiness to aggress and the presence of aggressive cues (Berkowitz). This easily generalizes to the sport socialization process. During an athletic contest, the potential for a...