An Exploration of Aggression in Mixed Martial Arts: A Qualitative Study
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Authors
Rosario, Daniery
Issue Date
2011
Type
Thesis
Language
en
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
Aggression can be defined as any behavior with the intent to harm another living being (Tenenbaum, Stewart, Singer, & Duda, 1996). The definition, however, far from encompasses the complexities of this widely debated topic in the sporting realm. According to Bandura (1978), people naturally learn to display physical forms of aggression at a young age. However, the aggression that is used in combat sports requires intricate skill and extensive learning. Mixed martial arts (MMA) consists of two fighters stepping into a cage or ring to dominate one another through means of martial art techniques. MMA fights are held in numerous countries and many fighters represent an array of martial art backgrounds. Studies have shown the impact of martial arts on aggression (Trulson, 1986), but there has been limited research on the lived experiences of aggression in combat sports. By using a Grounded Theory approach (Corbin & Strauss, 1990), the researcher explored how aggression is experienced among professional MMA fighters by looking at the factors that influence their aggression before, during, and after competition while using the theoretical frameworks of the reversal theory (Kerr, 2005). The qualitative research design process consisted of six semi-structured interviews with professional mixed martial artist. Examples of both hostile and instrumental aggression (Bushman & Anderson, 2001) are supported in the results whilst yielding strong evidence of power (pre-meditated) aggression in the sport. The results of the study suggest that the MMA participants have a basis for which they effectively manage and control their aggression during the course of training and performance. Practitioners can use this information going forward as basis for how athletes can use controlled aggression to facilitate performance.