Aggression in youth handball: Relationships between goal orientations and induced motivational context

This study examined the effects of the interaction between young male handball players' goal orientations (13-15 years of age) and induced motivational context (individual vs. collective performance) on observed aggression. 10 handball games, 5 under each induced motivational context, were videotaped and observed on monitor by means of a grid allowing the distinction between instrumental and hostile aggression. The results indicated (a) significant effects of the Induced motivational context and the Motivational Profile; and (b) an interaction between Induced motivational context and Motivational Profile on observed instrumental aggression. In a collective performance-induced context, players classified as being strongly both task- and ego-goal oriented displayed more instrumental aggression compared with those classified as having strong task-goal orientation and low ego-goal orientation.