Essay: Personality Development through Sports

The role of sports in the modern society becomes increasingly important by the day. The issues brought up to the daylight by this complex activity are in the focus of various medical, pedagogical, psychological, sociological, philosophical, and economical studies. The impact sports have on our society is recognized on the national level with top politicians participating in the opening of the grand sports events. In this context, it is very important for modern athletes to be worthy role models representing the wide range of humanistic ideas and universal moral values.

The physical culture and sports are a separate kind of the human activity, the significance of which varies in very wide brackets. They actively influence the public order, evolution of the public relationship. However, that is not what is the most important. The most important aspect of the issue is its ability to directly affect the formation of personality. That is why sports helps educate a harmonious personality in an individual.

Compare and Contrast Essay on Sports

I am going to do my comparison between the network of ESPN and ESPN’s website. Both of these types of media are things that I use, and use quite often. For sports lovers’ around, these medias supply the true answers to get all the days’ sports and highlights.

The sports station called ESPN (Entertainment Sports Production Network) is a channel that provides views with the day’s view of sports. The network contains many different programs and many different sporting events throughout the day. The typical highlight show, called Sportscenter, is run everyday up to 8 times a day and most of the night long. This is where the bulk of sports lovers’ go to, to get the days scores, updates and highlights. Throughout a day, one can see many commercials, not only attractive to supporting upcoming events, but also to promote the station itself, like Sportscenter. Most of the commercials that they run actually involve athletes whom either support a product for some company or show the media what sporting event is coming up in the next couple of days. The graphics are beyond belief, because half of the day on the channel is live television, so its graphics are great. But even those shows that are not live, the graphics are very appealing to the viewer which helps gain interest and keep them watching. What the network does best is that they broadcast a wide variety of sports.

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You may think that a station may only show like basketball or something, but they do everything. They can do this by earning the respect of team administrators and advisors, by sending anchors and analysist's places, which in return allow the station the view the event live. They get out and get the job done, that’s why they succeed in showing a variety of sports. They suit the needs of all sports lovers’, making ESPN a growing network obtaining more and more viewers.

So, you may be thinking how awesome it is for men and women who love sports to have a channel like this, but is there more to it? Well, the answer is yes. ESPN also has a website which is at www.espn.com. This website complies very well to its’ station on the television. But, they are not one in another they have many differences, but the same overall point. The website is mostly considered a more convenient form than that of the televised channel. This is because, with the website, you can access all the days’ sports in a matter of minutes. For instance, if you only have a few minutes before you have to be somewhere, and you are checking up on a specific team or a specific game, the website has up-to-the-minute stats for all sports. You just find the sport of game you’re looking for, click the tab, and the score will appear, now that’s awesome.

Now, you may think that since it’s a website, you can’t get actual games on it. Well, you’re wrong, because you can. Certain games will be able to be seen through a video-stream on the website, which is an added bonus so to say for some people who don’t get cable or those you only get regular television stations. You can also email the company about anything you need help with, or something that you just may want to know. You can also talk live to broadcasters and sometimes players through online chat, a recently added feature to the website. What the website does good is they provide the very latest news stories and scores so that the active viewer can make a couple of clicks and get want they want. They can do this because of the technology that has become of today’s age, and all of the reporters that go out, get the stories, and just relay (if not type it themselves) the information back to the main station, allowing for quick responses and additions. A busy person who loves sports most likely will turn toward the website before the telecasts.

Now that we know the background of the two, let’s get into a little more depth. First of all, the online version has way more information to give out and goes into greater depth. They can do this because they aren’t stuck down to a time limit so to say. The program has to fit its shows and events into time frames, while the website can just have tabs with sub-tabs and so on with much more information for the viewer. So you could say that the website also supplies more content. The viewer has way more access to all the different types of sports, providing more content for those viewers. Certain areas to pertain better to the two forms of media though, for example: Live events are better suited for the television network while plain old up-to-date stats and scores are better suited for the website. You can probably guess some of the others to, but that was just an example of each.

According to Jakob Nielsen’s “Top Ten Mistakes in Web Designs”, this site fits the criteria, or doesn’t fit it very well. I say this, because after reading through the mistakes, then looking at the website, I really saw no problems. Now, the part on taking more than 15 seconds for a page to appear did happen, but I think that is more due to my computer, not due to their website. They even use the colored links, to help those know where they have already been, which is a smart thing to do. Also, it gives certain tabs to relate to the different sports available. By doing this, is saves the viewer time. They can just click on a tab, instead of having to click through 5 or 6 screens. In my opinion, they did a fantastic job when they created this site, plus they continue making updates, also a good thing for the viewer.

Well, since I have used both medias in my life, I would have to say that I prefer the television media better. I prefer it because it’s easier for me. I turn on the television and just start watching whatever is on. They show sportscenter like 3 times in a row, so if I miss something, I can catch it next time through. Plus, being the sports fanatic that I am, I love almost every live event that is on. So I tend to use the television version of ESPN a lot more than the website version. Also, on the television network, they have had a few series of shows, like movies. The newest of them is called “Playmakers”, which is about a football team and everyday life surrounding it, such as drugs, sex, and lying. It is really cool and something that I hope they continue to have. It’s always good to have a change or an addition every now and then; at least that’s what I think. So, if someone asked me my opinion, on which media to use, I would tell them the television media, because that’s the one that I prefer.


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Essay on Aggression in Sport

Aggression is “any form of behaviour directed toward the goal of harming or injuring another living being who motivated to avoid such treatment.” (Baron and Richardson, 1994). It has to be a behaviour, either physical or verbal. It involves psychological or physical harm or injury. It is directed toward a living organism, and it involves intent. There are four main theories of aggression. The instinct theory, the frustration-aggression hypothesis, the revised frustration-aggression hypothesis, and the social learning theory.

The Instinct theory of aggression is based on works by Sigmund Freud and Konard Lorenz. According to Freud, aggression is an inborn drive similar to sex or hunger. It is a natural, innate characteristic which has developed through evolution and is a major part of our existence. Aggression can be expressed by directly attacking another living being or being released through catharsis. Catharsis is when aggression is released through socially acceptable means. According to Lorenz, competitive games and sports are one example of a safe and socially acceptable outlet for pent up aggression.

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Sigmund Freud claimed that our “death instincts”, which are destructive are subconsciously in conflict with our “life instincts”, which are positive and creative, and this confliction is the origin of all desires to be aggressive. According to this theory, aggression was the main representative of the death instinct. This theory however, has a crucial flaw in that having defined the general aim of the death instinct, Freud failed to determine it’s source.

The frustration-aggression theory was proposed by Dollard et al (1939). He argued that aggression is a innate response which only occurs in frustrating situations. Frustration of not meeting goals and satisfying personal needs can make a person angry and aggressive. This is the basis of the frustration-aggression hypothesis.

Aggressive behaviour is a logical and expected consequence of frustration. It can lead to goal aggression (purpose of hurting someone) or instrumental aggression where an opponent might get injured accidentally while frustrated player is legally going for the ball). The more built up frustration the more likely the athlete will use goal aggression to attempt to injure the opponent. A person can also use displaced aggression to release their built up frustration. Displace aggression is when aggression is carried out on other objects.

The frustration-aggression theory differs from the instinct theory in that aggression may be the result of instigators other than biological instincts. A more recent view of the frustration-aggression theory suggests that the magnitude of the expressed aggression is dependent on the amplitude of the frustration, the individual’s threshold for frustration, the amount of frustrating incidents, and the magnitude of the anticipated retaliation to the athletes expressed aggression.

According to Berkowitz and Alioto (1973), a frustrating event creates a readiness for aggression. Certain stimuli associated with aggression must be present for aggression to take place. These stimuli are cues which the frustrated person associates with aggression. A study done by Brekowitz and Page (1967) showed that frustrated subjects placed in a room with aggressive cues (weapons), showed greater aggression than subjects placed in a room with non aggressive cues (badminton rackets). Another study done by Frank and Gilovich (1988) showed that teams which wear black uniforms in the National Football League (NFL) and the National Hockey League (NHL), rank near the top of their respective leagues in penalties studied.

The social learning theorists believe that “aggression is a function of learning and that biological drive and frustration are inadequate explanations of the phenomenon.” (Cox, 1994). A study done by McCord (1962) found direct correlations between the degree of aggressiveness in adolescents and aggressiveness in the family environment. The parents were also characterised as being hostile with each other. McCord also found that non-aggressive boys were brought up in a warm, less aggressive environment. (Anshel 1994).

Bandura believes catharsis, while it is an important component of the instinct theory and the frustration-aggression theory, it plays no part in the social learning theory. According to Bandura, aggression has a circular effect. Acts of aggression only lay the foundation for more aggression and that this pattern will continue until the circle is broken by a positive or negative reinforcement. Bandura (1973) also thought that aggressive behaviours are acquired and maintained by two modes. The modelling process and the vicarious process. The modelling process is based on the tendency to imitate the actions of the individual being observed. If an individual was performing aggressive acts it will likely lead to an observer demonstrating similar behaviours. Vicarious processes occur when observers are exposed to models who are rewarded for aggressive acts opposed to models who are punished for them. Observers are more likely to become aggressive after observing models which are rewarded for aggressive behaviour rather than punished.

The revised frustration-aggression theory combines elements of the frustration-aggression theory with the social learning theory. According to this widely held view, “although frustration does not always lead to aggression, it increases the likelihood of aggression by increasing arousal and anger”. (Berkowitz, 1993) Increased arousal and anger will only result in aggression when socially learned cues signal it is appropriate. If the socially learned cues signal aggression is not appropriate, it will not result.

Berkowitz’s model shows the aggression process. First the individual becomes frustrated. Then increased arousal results from the frustration, usually in the form of anger or pain. Increased arousal and anger will only lead to aggression if the individual has learnt that it is appropriate in such a situation. Aggression will not automatically result.

Soccer is a sport which can be very aggressive. Some coaches feel that aggressiveness can enhance athletic performance and often tell their players to ‘go in hard’ and ‘don’t back out’. This sort of aggression can enhance athletic performance, if the player is going for the ball, if it’s legal and there is no intention to deliberately hurt or injure the opposition. If a player starts to show signs of aggression they should be discouraged by the coach or given a yellow card by the referee as a warning. If they continue to be aggressive they should be given a red card and be sent off or the coach should take that player off. Coaches should discourage aggression and not promote it. Athletes should also be encouraged for controlling their tempers in highly aggressive situations. Coaches who encourage or allow their players to engage in aggressive acts should be fined or suspended from their coaching duties. Another problem is that the most influential people to young athletes actually promote rather than discourage violence. Professionals should define appropriate behaviour and make clear that any form of aggression inappropriate in society is also inappropriate in sport. If aggression is allowed at the professional level, it will continue to be promoted in the lower skill levels. If a athlete has a problem with aggression, stress management training can help deal with frustrating situations. Through training, the athlete could reduce their aggressive responses. Also, external stimuli or cues capable of evoking hostile aggression on the field should be removed to discourage aggression.

There are four main theories of aggression. The instinct theory is based on works by Freud and Lorenz. They believe aggression is an innate characteristic which builds up and has to be released either by catharsis or by unacceptable means. Frustration-aggression theorists believe aggression is a direct result of frustration and that frustration always leads to aggression.

According to the social learning theory, people learn to be aggressive by observing others using aggressive behaviour. They are more likely to imitate the behaviour if the model is rewarded in someway. The revised frustration-aggression theory states that frustration creates “ready to aggress”, but will not necessarily do so. Aggressive cues need to be present to signal aggression is appropriate in the situation. Aggression should be discouraged in sport by influential people such as sport stars and other role models. Young athletes should be told that aggression is not necessary by their coaches and be punished for using it.

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