GROUP AGGRESSION

GROUP AGGRESSION

1. AO1

   • Group displays are ritualised displays of aggression
     • The evolutionary significance of this
       • Would be to increase survival rates
       • Increase chances of reproductive success
     • By and between groups of people
     • Which serve the fuctions of determining
       • Dominance hierarchies in relation to ownership of
         • Territory
         • Intimidation of other groups
   • Group displays at sporting occassions
     • The aggressive posturing and ritualised displays
       • That occur are not seen as especially violent in themselves
       • Though there is a degree of discussion as to whether
         • They can act as a catalyst for serious acts of aggression to take place
     • Can occur as phenomena among and between fans
       • As well as between sporting team themselves
     • The group displays that occur at/ around sporting occasions
       • Tend to be heavily policed
       • With other security measures apparent too
         • Such as the segregation of fans
       • Which means that there are actually very few if any
         • Opportunities for violent behaviour
   • Sports events
     • Include a number of features demonstrating
       • Group displays
     • Indeed many aspects of sporting competitions serve
       • As a vehicle for group display both on/off the pitch
   • There is a body of opinion that sees sports events
     • More in psychodynamic terms
     • As being ceremonies of catharsis in terms of aggression
     • Where both fans and competitors use the sporting occasion
       • As a safe means of releasing aggresive tendencies
         • Through the use of group displays
   • Lynch mobs are another example of group display
     • Where temporary groups of people come together
       • To be involved in the commone pursuit
         • Or undertaking of some violent act
     • Originally occured when mobs took the law into theit own hands
       • To administer aggressive acts resulting in death
         • Usually by hanging
       • Over 3000 recorded lynchings
         • Of black people by white mobs in USA
         • 1852-1955
         • These events often witnessed by great gatherings
           • Considered quite joyful social occasions
             • To participate in
             • Or witness

2. RESEARCH

   • End
     • Found environment of sports events
     • Encourage aggressive group displays
     • Suggesting they are social construction
   • Grieve
     • Identification with sports teams
       • Psychologically important in an increasingly transient
         • And insular society
     • Suggesting that group displays allow individuals
       • To feel sense of social identity

3. EVALUATION

   • Group displays at sports event
     • Can be explained as a socialisation process
     • Serving to emphasise social identity
   • Univeral nature of war dances cross-culturally
     • In sports suggests that the behaviour
       • May have evolutionary component
     • Related to riutalised aggression
   • Many sports teams war dances
     • Artifical
     • Constructed for commercial purposes
     • Don't reflect traditional practises

4. IDA

   • Other explanatory factors
     • Biological
     • Cognitive
     • Reductionist
   • Evolutionary theory can be argued
     • To be an incomplete explanation
       • Of group displays
     • Having limited practical applications