Five major Social Theories for Studying Sports in Society Flashcards
What is Functionalist Theory (aka structural functionalism)?
Society is “a complex system in which all of the different elements of its structure work to promote stability and solidarity.”
Sports are studied in terms of:
- Exploring structure
- Understanding function
what does functionalist theory help us comprehend?
helps in comprehending the functions that sports fulfill within a society and how they contribute to social cohesion, stability, and overall well-being.
what are the functions of sport in sociology (functionalist theory)
Group bonding
Sense of community / social cohesion
Integration to dominant values
Socialization; social skills
Entertainment; escapism
Deterrent to deviant behaviours
Nationhood
what are the assumptions of functionalism?
they serve value, Are an inspiration, a way to share values and norms.
How can the functionalist assumptions regarding sports be applied to address the issue of obesity within society?
Obesity is a significant public health concern, and utilizing sports in line with these assumptions can offer valuable strategies to combat and prevent obesity.
Limitations of Functionalism Theory:
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.
Conflict theory (Marx Weber)
emphasizes the role of power, inequalities, and social conflicts
What does Weber say about society?
Society (especially capitalist society) is … divided into (unequal) social classes. Because of the inequality, there is social conflict between the classes.
conflict theory assumptions
Distorted by capital (ex: opiates), commercialization (Ex: ownership of of teams, leagues, broadcasting rights, sponsorships)
what are the limitations of conflict theory?
“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.
Interactionist theory (aka symbolic interactionism):
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.
when is interactionist theory valuabble?
valuable in analyzing the micro-level interactions and symbolic meanings within the context of sports.
what was mead interested in?
“I” and “me.”
While the I is the subjective experience of the self, the Me is the objective experience.
Socialization into and through sport (interactionist thoery)
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
Subcultures (interactionist theory)
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.
assumptions of interactionist theory:
Social interaction happens in sport.
Participation guided by identities & relationships to others.
what are critical theories
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.
Sport is a place of discrimination and social control AND what? (conflict theory)
And a place of action.
limitations of conflict theory:
No clear guidelines for identifying resistance and producing change.
Privileges the voices of the marginalized.
Diversity among critical theories
One important inspiration for the development of critical social theories was …
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.
what are feminist theories?
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.
Critical race theory
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.
