Self-control as a mechanism for controlling aggression: A study in the context of sport competition

• Published in: Personality and individual differences Vol. 87; pp. 302 - 306
• Main Authors: Manuel Sofia, Rui, Cruz, José Fernando A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2015
• Subjects: Aggression; Anger; Anti-social behavior; Self-control; Sport competition; Anger; Anti-social behavior; Self-control; Aggression; Sport competition
• ISSN: 0191-8869; 1873-3549
• DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2015.08.025

Self-control is one of the most important structures of human personality and has been linked to a wide variety of benefits for the individual, and for society. Additionally, self-control has been consistently reported, both empirically and theoretically, as a major disposition in the regulation of aggressive behavior. Taking the advantages of the sport context as a natural environment to study human aggression, this study explored the individual differences in aggressive and anti-social behaviors as function of self-control capacity and gender. Results converged to the idea that athletes with higher levels of self-control capacity seem to be better at controlling aggression, and male athletes tend to be more aggressive. These findings not only support previous laboratory findings, but also suggest the importance of the promotion of self-control capacity as a strategy to control aggression in the domain of sport. •Self-control has an important role in the regulation of aggression in sport.•Individuals with low self-control tend to show more aggressive behaviors.•Self-control seems to aid the regulation of ruminative thinking patterns in athletes.•Self-control skills training may be a key for decreasing aggression in sport.