Sport to increase self-control and reduce aggression

It’s intriguing to look at self-control as a capacity to reduce aggression. In fact Galić and Ružojčić (2017) state that dispositional self-control, as measured with an according test, moderated negative behavior at work. Similarly, implicit self-control can be related to a reduction of anger and different types of aggression (Keatly, Allom, & Mullan, 2017).

Maybe like from the after-school anti-aggression sports program studied by Shachar, Ronen-Rosenbaum, Rosenbaum, Orkibi, and Hamama (2016), the impressive results including evidence for better self-control skills, reduced anger and less urge for physical aggression, could be replicated for adults. The program required the experiment group to sport five times a week, though. Would be interesting to know down to what intensity and frequency such a program would still yield similar benefits (Shachar et al., 2016).

References

Galić, Z., & Ružojčić, M. (2017). Interaction between implicit aggression and dispositional self-control in explaining counterproductive work behaviors. Personality & Individual Differences, 104111–117. doi:10.1016/j.paid.2016.07.046

Keatley, D. A., Allom, V., & Mullan, B. (2017). The effects of implicit and explicit self-control on self-reported aggression. Personality And Individual Differences, 107154–158. doi:10.1016/j.paid.2016.11.046

Shachar, K., Ronen-Rosenbaum, T., Rosenbaum, M., Orkibi, H., & Hamama, L. (2016). Reducing child aggression through sports intervention: The role of self-control skills and emotions. Children And Youth Services Review, 71241–249. doi:10.1016/j.childyouth.2016.11.012