Module 4: Aggression

Psychology for Sports Performance

1. Introduction to aggression
2. Types of aggression
3. Types of aggression activity
4. Causes of aggression
5. Controlling aggression
6. Anger management techniques
   1. Controlled breathing
   2. Self-talk
7. Self-talk activity

Self-talk

Performers often think or say things out loud such as 'I can't believe they just did that' or 'that was a bad decision by the umpire'. These are negative types of self-talk and can lead to aggressive behaviour. Here are some examples of positive and negative self-talk.

A performer cannot give quality attention to more than one thing so must first stop the negative thought in order to then replace it with a positive thought. Imagine a red light coming on in your head to stop any negative thoughts you may have that will have a negative affect on performance. This red light could be replaced by a buzz word or another image to focus concentration e.g. 'calm', 'focus' or 'walk away'.

Once a performer is able to stop the negative thoughts from coming in to their head using a buzz word or image, it is then important to introduce positive thoughts. Using positive thoughts should enhance their performance and reduce any aggression or frustration before it builds up.

Self-talk example

In the quarter final of the 2006 World Cup Wayne Rooney was sent off, after Stamping on Ronaldo, then pushing him in front of the referee.

If Rooney had used 'self-talk' he could have saved himself from being sent off. Ideally self-talk should be used as a prevention of aggression and frustration. Rooney should have used the following when Ronaldo was winding him up: