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CO-PRESENTER AT A CONFERENCE; GREAT TALK ON AGGRESSION IN SPORTSMITCH ABRAMS, PHD
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Mitch Abrams, Psy.D.Mitch Abrams, Psy.D.Learned Excellence for Learned Excellence for
AthletesAthletesSport Psychologist/FounderSport Psychologist/Founder
720 King Georges Road; Ste 105720 King Georges Road; Ste 105Fords, New Jersey 08863Fords, New Jersey 08863
Office: (732)738-0900Office: (732)738-0900Fax: (732)738-0815Fax: (732)738-0815Cell: (917)887-5206Cell: (917)887-5206
E-mail: [email protected]: [email protected]
Deviant Sports Deviant Sports AggressionAggression
U.S. U.S. Prisons Prisons
Are Are NOTNOT Filled with Filled with AthletesAthletes
Interestingly, sport Interestingly, sport psychologists and the media psychologists and the media are not focusing on the same are not focusing on the same
issues.issues.Sport PsychologySport Psychology
Goal SettingGoal SettingInjury IssuesInjury IssuesAnxiety ReductionAnxiety ReductionTeam BuildingTeam BuildingPerformance Performance EnhancementEnhancementNot all sport Not all sport psychologists are psychologists are psychologists – let psychologists – let alone trained in alone trained in understanding deviant understanding deviant behavior.behavior.
MediaMedia
In-sport aggressionIn-sport aggression
RapeRape
SteroidsSteroids
Substance AbuseSubstance Abuse
Point Point shaving/gambling shaving/gambling scandals.scandals.
Domestic violenceDomestic violence
GolfGolf “ “AggressiveAggressive play is a vital asset of the world's gr play is a vital asset of the world's greatest golfers. However, it's even moeatest golfers. However, it's even more important to the average player. Are important to the average player. Attack this game in a bold, confident, ttack this game in a bold, confident, and determined way, and you'll makeand determined way, and you'll make a giant leap toward realizing your ful a giant leap toward realizing your full potential as a player.l potential as a player.” ”
Greg NormanGreg Norman
TennisTennis
“My aggression out there is my weap“My aggression out there is my weapon, ... ... I think it's more letting themon, ... ... I think it's more letting them know that I'm not going to let them know that I'm not going to let them get away with something, and I'm noget away with something, and I'm not just going to kind of poke it back ant just going to kind of poke it back and be content to stay in rallies.”d be content to stay in rallies.”
Andy RoddickAndy Roddick
Michael JordanMichael Jordan
I realized that if I was going to I realized that if I was going to achieve anything in life I had to be achieve anything in life I had to be aggressive. I had to get out there aggressive. I had to get out there and go for it... I know fear is an and go for it... I know fear is an obstacle for some people, but it's an obstacle for some people, but it's an illusion to me. illusion to me.
AggressionAggression Behavior associated with tenacity that often has doing Behavior associated with tenacity that often has doing harm to another as one of its goal.harm to another as one of its goal.
Types of AggressionTypes of Aggression
InstrumentalInstrumental - goal-directed aggression where harm to - goal-directed aggression where harm to another is not the primary goal but is a secondary another is not the primary goal but is a secondary result of the action.result of the action.
ReactiveReactive - behavior that has, as its goal, to do harm to - behavior that has, as its goal, to do harm to someone. Usually, this is in response to a perceived someone. Usually, this is in response to a perceived injustice, insult, or wrong-doing. Related to anger.injustice, insult, or wrong-doing. Related to anger.
DeviantDeviant •Differing from a norm or from the accepted standards of a society.
•Not necessarily different and worse.
•Could mean statistically different.
ViolenceViolence - extreme form of reactive - extreme form of reactive aggression.aggression.
Sports ViolenceSports Violence - harm-inducing - harm-inducing behavior outside the rules of sport, behavior outside the rules of sport, bearing no direct relationship to the bearing no direct relationship to the competitive goals of sport. competitive goals of sport. (Terry & (Terry & Jackson, 1985)Jackson, 1985)
ViolenceViolence
Incidental – Incidental –
Hard CheckHard Check
Hostile -Hostile -
Goal is to HarmGoal is to Harm..
Spontaneous –Spontaneous –
AngerAnger
Planned –Planned –System Failure!!!System Failure!!!
(Abrams & Hale, 2004)(Abrams & Hale, 2004)
A New Model
Sport Success Depends on Sport Success Depends on the Type of Aggressionthe Type of Aggression
Instrumental Instrumental
AggressionAggression
Reactive Reactive
AggressionAggression
Sport Sport
SuccessSuccess
Penalties, Penalties,
Mental Mental
MistakesMistakes
Athletic SuccessAthletic Success
When we think of deviant When we think of deviant aggression, do we consider aggression, do we consider
context?context?
Passively go after your goals?Passively go after your goals?
Withstand pain, hurdle obstacles, Withstand pain, hurdle obstacles, persevere?persevere?
Train harder, work harder, want it more…Train harder, work harder, want it more…
Relax, success will come to you, don’t Relax, success will come to you, don’t worry…worry…
CompetitionCompetition– Good vs. BadGood vs. Bad
BE AGGRESSIVE!!!!BE AGGRESSIVE!!!!
Sports World
In the financial world “aggressiveness” is an essential In the financial world “aggressiveness” is an essential and highly desirable characteristic.and highly desirable characteristic.It relates to being “aggressive” in things like:It relates to being “aggressive” in things like:– finding new business leads finding new business leads – taking smart financial risks (when the proper risk/reward taking smart financial risks (when the proper risk/reward
situation occurs) situation occurs) – taking large trading positions when things are setting up taking large trading positions when things are setting up
correctly correctly – identifying new products or ways to improve old operations identifying new products or ways to improve old operations
With my clients, I refer to incorporating “controlled With my clients, I refer to incorporating “controlled aggression” meaning you wait for your “edge” aggression” meaning you wait for your “edge” opportunity to appear and then unleash the aggression opportunity to appear and then unleash the aggression to achieve the desired outcome.to achieve the desired outcome.
Doug Hirschhorn, Ph.D.Doug Hirschhorn, Ph.D.
World of Business
Do Emotions Help or Hurt Do Emotions Help or Hurt Performance?Performance?
Consider these situations:Consider these situations:
1.1. Quarterback throwing a pass Quarterback throwing a pass in tight coverage.in tight coverage.
2.2. Defensive lineman rushing Defensive lineman rushing the passer.the passer.
3.3. A linebacker reacting to a A linebacker reacting to a play – run or pass?play – run or pass?
Do Emotions Help or Hurt Do Emotions Help or Hurt Performance?Performance?
Consider these situations:Consider these situations:
4.4. A student sitting in the room when A student sitting in the room when he/she is about to take the SAT.he/she is about to take the SAT.
5.5. An applicant in the waiting room An applicant in the waiting room before entering into an interview – before entering into an interview – either for college admission or either for college admission or ““THETHE” job. ” job.
6.6. An executive determining strategy An executive determining strategy for the company’s future.for the company’s future.
When aroused, what goes out the When aroused, what goes out the window?window?
Decision makingDecision making
Problem solvingProblem solving
Fine motor coordinationFine motor coordination
Cognitive processing speedCognitive processing speed
Ability to consider all optionsAbility to consider all options
““Vision”Vision”
Coaching considerationsCoaching considerations
Stimulus differentiation problemsStimulus differentiation problemsHow to help them turn it up vs. turn How to help them turn it up vs. turn it down:it down:– Self-awarenessSelf-awareness– Teammate assistanceTeammate assistance– Pre-competition mental skills trainingPre-competition mental skills training– Prediction of consequencesPrediction of consequences
Open discussion about if the Open discussion about if the behavior occurs outside of the sports behavior occurs outside of the sports arena what can happen.arena what can happen.
Normalize EmotionsNormalize Emotions
How much can you tolerate and still How much can you tolerate and still perform well is more important than perform well is more important than what emotion you have.what emotion you have.
Learn what they already use to Learn what they already use to adjust their mood - self-talk, adjust their mood - self-talk, imagery/visualization and music.imagery/visualization and music.
Reframe the experience as their Reframe the experience as their body is just getting ready for what body is just getting ready for what they prepared for.they prepared for.
What works in the extremes?What works in the extremes?
Violence and sport have NOT Violence and sport have NOT developed a new relationship!!!developed a new relationship!!!
Anymore than violence and society Anymore than violence and society have just become acquainted…have just become acquainted…
Interventions Need to be AvailableInterventions Need to be Available
Start young! Codes of Conduct in Start young! Codes of Conduct in Youth Sport.Youth Sport.Anger Management geared to Anger Management geared to athletes, coaches, parents, etc.athletes, coaches, parents, etc.Education of athletes starting at the Education of athletes starting at the high school level, about high school level, about consequences of behavior.consequences of behavior.Prosocial programming for dating Prosocial programming for dating violence prevention.violence prevention.
For Whom Do These Skills For Whom Do These Skills NotNot Work? Work?
People that are not motivated for success.People that are not motivated for success.– They see it as mandated.They see it as mandated.– Will try to not learn.Will try to not learn.
Those with other, more severe Those with other, more severe psychopathology.psychopathology.– Be ready to refer to a professional. Be ready to refer to a professional.
Know when you are out of your league.Know when you are out of your league.
Not willing to give up people who support Not willing to give up people who support anger/violence. (i.e. Gangs)anger/violence. (i.e. Gangs)
PsychopathyPsychopathy
Thank You!!!Thank You!!!
Mitch Abrams, Psy.D.Mitch Abrams, Psy.D.Learned Excellence for AthletesLearned Excellence for Athletes
Sport Psychologist/FounderSport Psychologist/Founder
720 King Georges Road; Ste 105720 King Georges Road; Ste 105
Fords, New Jersey 08863Fords, New Jersey 08863
Office: (732)738-0900Office: (732)738-0900
Fax: (732)738-0815Fax: (732)738-0815
Cell: (917)887-5206Cell: (917)887-5206
E-mail: [email protected]: [email protected]
