Aggression in the Sports World: A Social Psychological PerspectiveThey are familiar scenes: sports fans turning on each other in acts of violence, and mobs of sports fans flooding onto the field or out into the streets. Is there something inherent in the competitive sport setting that produces this frequently dangerous behavior? Written in an engaging style, this volume addresses the question by exploring the wide range of influences at work, from a social psychological perspective. Topics range from a focus on the personality traits that predispose individuals to act aggressively, to a wider concern with who riots, why they riot, and situations that favor the occurrence of sports riots. Research on the equally disturbing phenomenon of crowd panics explores the underlying causes and peculiar behavior of people caught in the panics. Aggression is influenced and exacerbated by multiple factors: troublemakers who incite others to aggress, influence by the media, differing cultural backgrounds, blind obedience, and attempts by individuals to emulate unworthy personal heroes. Less obvious factors such as temperature, noise, and color also exert important effects on interpersonal aggression, and drugs such as alcohol and steroids further inflame the possibilities for violence. Russell examines all these factors in his international and interdisciplinary presentation of the best and most recent findings in the study of sports aggression, and provides a series of proposals intended to prevent or minimize the severity of riots and panics. Additionally, he explores the relationship between aggression and what is probably the most revered concept in sports: competition. Scholars, students, and sports savvy fans will find this book of interest. |
Contents
Chapter 2 Personality | 36 |
Chapter 3 Environmental and Situational Influences | 73 |
Media and Firsthand | 103 |
Chapter 5 Violent Sports Crowds | 133 |
Chapter 6 Panics | 171 |
Chapter 7 Methods Measures and Views of Sports Aggression | 201 |
| 233 | |
Author Index | 261 |
| 271 | |
Other editions - View all
Aggression in the Sports World: A Social Psychological Perspective Gordon W. Russell Limited preview - 2008 |
Aggression in the Sports World: A Social Psychological Perspective Gordon W. Russell Limited preview - 2008 |
Common terms and phrases
actions addition aggres aggressive behavior alcohol American football anger assault athletes attending audience Berkowitz boys Bushman catharsis cathartic Cherek combatant sports competition condition confederate crowd disturbance described diazepam differences digit ratio effects escape evidence example exits experiment experimental factors false consensus effect fans female fight film findings football frustration further hooligans hostile hypothesis ice hockey identified included increase individuals influence interactions interpersonal aggression investigation involved Iroquois Theater fire league levels likelihood major males match MCSD measure moral panic National Hockey League noise observed occur officials one’s panic participants peacemakers personality physical aggression play players police predicted professional wrestling provocation question referees regarding relationship researchers response role Russell & Arms scores shock situation soccer social spectators sports events stadium suggest television testosterone threat tion trait variables verbal aggression viewers violence in sport watching women