The place and role of aggressiveness and aggression in sports activities

The article, based on the analysis and generalization of research materials presented in dissertations, monographs, scientific articles and scientific reports at scientific and practical conferences, examines aggressiveness as a characteristic of the mental state and personality traits, and aggression as an individual’s behavior and activity in the system of social relations. Taking into account the social and personal significance, two qualitatively different forms of functioning and development of aggressiveness and aggression are distinguished - destructive and instrumental. The former is a factor of destruction, the latter of creation. In line with the emphasis there are direct and indirect aggression, and the way of influence - physical and verbal. The objects of aggression can be external objects (people or objects) and the aggressor himself (body and personality). An essential feature of sport as a type of human activity is conflict in the form of a competition of athletes or sports teams pursuing opposite goals. Aggressiveness of personality, manifested in sport in the form of instrumental aggression, is considered as a necessary condition for the effectiveness of competitive activity. The latter is a socially acceptable cultural way of actualization and discharge of aggressive behavioral attitudes inherent in a person, realized in conditions of self-control in accordance with the norms of sports ethics. According to the authors, gaining experience in competitive activity leads to the formation of aggressive behavior skills and management of one’s mental state, but does not affect the level of development of aggressiveness, which as a property of temperament, is a fairly stable personal characteristic.