Five major Social Theories for Studying Sports in Society

Question 1

What is Functionalist Theory (aka structural functionalism)?

Answer 1

Society is “a complex system in which all of the different elements of its structure work to promote stability and solidarity.”

Question 2

Sports are studied in terms of:

Answer 2

• Exploring structure
• Understanding function

Question 3

what does functionalist theory help us comprehend?

Answer 3

helps in comprehending the functions that sports fulfill within a society and how they contribute to social cohesion, stability, and overall well-being.

Question 4

what are the functions of sport in sociology (functionalist theory)

Answer 4

 Group bonding
 Sense of community / social cohesion
 Integration to dominant values
 Socialization; social skills
 Entertainment; escapism
 Deterrent to deviant behaviours
 Nationhood

Question 5

what are the assumptions of functionalism?

Answer 5

they serve value, Are an inspiration, a way to share values and norms.

Question 6

How can the functionalist assumptions regarding sports be applied to address the issue of obesity within society?

Answer 6

Obesity is a significant public health concern, and utilizing sports in line with these assumptions can offer valuable strategies to combat and prevent obesity.

Question 7

Limitations of Functionalism Theory:

Answer 7

Conservative: it tends to uphold and justify the existing social order and status quo.

Assumes all elements are good.

Ex: Functionalism often emphasizes the stability and equilibrium of social systems. It may downplay or ignore the need for change or social reform, reinforcing the existing social structures and power dynamics.

Question 8

Conflict theory (Marx Weber)

Answer 8

emphasizes the role of power, inequalities, and social conflicts

Question 9

What does Weber say about society?

Answer 9

Society (especially capitalist society) is … divided into (unequal) social classes. Because of the inequality, there is social conflict between the classes.

Question 10

conflict theory assumptions

Answer 10

Distorted by capital (ex: opiates), commercialization (Ex: ownership of of teams, leagues, broadcasting rights, sponsorships)

Question 11

what are the limitations of conflict theory?

Answer 11

“Economically determined” : refers to the idea that conflict theory often places a heavy emphasis on economic factors as the primary drivers of social conflicts and inequalities within the sporting world.

Overemphasis on Conflict: places significant emphasis on conflict and competition, potentially overlooking instances of cooperation, consensus, and shared interests that also play a crucial role in society.

Question 12

Interactionist theory (aka symbolic interactionism):

Answer 12

To understand society, we need to look at how people interact with others and understand the world (from their perspective)

Symbolic interactionism explores how people interact and create meaning through symbols, gestures, and language within the world of sports.

Question 13

when is interactionist theory valuabble?

Answer 13

valuable in analyzing the micro-level interactions and symbolic meanings within the context of sports.

Question 14

what was mead interested in?

Answer 14

“I” and “me.”

While the I is the subjective experience of the self, the Me is the objective experience.

Question 15

Socialization into and through sport (interactionist thoery)

Answer 15

Socialization into sport means the active process of learning sport’s rules, codes, values, and norms.

Socialization through sport, on the other hand, refers to the lessons that are learned from sport that have some application to wider society

Question 16

Subcultures (interactionist theory)

Answer 16

refer to distinct groups within a larger culture that share a set of norms, values, beliefs, behaviors, and artifacts that differentiate them from the dominant or mainstream culture.

interactionist theory has helped us to understand the process through which subcultural groups form language, belief system, normative structure, and general inner-group identity.

Question 17

assumptions of interactionist theory:

Answer 17

Social interaction happens in sport.

Participation guided by identities & relationships to others.

Question 18

what are critical theories

Answer 18

explores power dynamics, social inequalities, and systems of oppression within society.

analyzes power imbalances and the exploitation of athletes, particularly at lower levels or in amateur sports.

Question 19

Sport is a place of discrimination and social control AND what? (conflict theory)

Answer 19

And a place of action.

Question 20

limitations of conflict theory:

Answer 20

No clear guidelines for identifying resistance and producing change.

Privileges the voices of the marginalized.

Diversity among critical theories

Question 21

One important inspiration for the development of critical social theories was …

Answer 21

Antonio Gramsci (1891–1937)

Gramsci used the term hegemony describes how power in society is maintained by developing consent among the general populace through “common sense” ideas or common assumptions, which benefit and maintain the power of dominant classes.

Question 22

what are feminist theories?

Answer 22

critical lens to analyze and challenge the gender inequalities and power dynamics prevalent within the sports world.

feminist theory is often considered a branch or subset of critical theory within the broader field of sociology and social theory.

Question 23

Critical race theory

Answer 23

a powerful framework for understanding how race and racism intersect with various aspects of the sporting world.

It originated in the United States as a response to the limitations of traditional approaches to understanding and addressing racial inequalities and discrimination. Critical race theory incorporates critical analysis of social structures, power dynamics, and systemic racism.