Section 1B Flashcards
What are some of the main things theory allows us to do? (8)
1) To move beyond the descriptive level and towards explanation
2) To explain and predict events, patterns, trends
3) To broaden our understanding of social issues
4) To debunk common stereotypes or myths
5) To explain issues in terms of human agency and social structure, and to respect both approaches
6) To understand the usefulness of interdisciplinarity
7) To better understand the methods we use
8) To help design concrete programmes and policies
What does sociological theory deal with?
How social stability and social conflict grow out of power relations and social stratification
What are the 3 main sociological theories when studying sociology of sport?
1) Structural functionalism
2) Conflic theory (Orthodox Marxism)
3) Neo Marxism (critical theory or cultural studies)
What are functions and dysfunctions according to Robert Merton and Talcott Parsons (structural functionalism)
Functions: Parts of social processes that contribute to social order
Dysfunctions: Parts of social processes that contribute to disorder.
Why is structural functionalism also referred to as the organic model (or systems/order model?)
Views social processes much like a body, watch or clock. Neither can operate smoothly without all their normal parts working in harmony together.
According to Talcott Parsons, what are the 4 functional imperatives required for a successful and smooth running social system?
1) Pattern Maintenance and Tension management
2) Integration
3) Goal attainment
4) Adaptation
What is pattern maintenance?
The extent to which sport fosters ideals and values basic to social life such as cooperation, healthy competition, and discipline/respect. Teaches people how to be contributing members of society.
What is tension mangement?
3 forms:
1) Socio-emotional functions of life (how sport affects the social and psychological states of individuals)
2) How sport provides a cathartic outlet for emotions and aggression
3) How sport can lead to health and wellness.
What is integration?
Sport performs integrative functions like coalescing individuals around a common activity which enhances group cohesion. Sport can help create and confirm social ties even among diverse people/
What is the idea of goal attainment according to structural functionalism?
Sport helps to legitimize and confirm appropriate objectives of society such as to give it your all, no pain no gain, etc.
What is the idea of adaptation?
Sport helps us adapt to a challenging and changing world, learning how to lose and be second best, survival skills, modern replacement for war.
What are manifest functions?
Agreed upon, anticipated, and generally recognized aspects of the area- example: belief that sport affords individuals from lower class backgrounds with high athletic ability a channel for upward social mobility.
What are latent functions?
Frequently covert, unintended, and unrecognized consequences- example: Perpetuation of myths or cruel hoaxes regarding the reality of social advancement via sports achievements.
What are the 3 key advantages of structural functionalism as it applies to sport?
1) Shows most congruence with personal theories of sport- sport as a possible inspiration for people, can unify and integrate and teach us to adapt.
2) Application of this approach to sport is very clear.
3) Helps us to understand how sport can be used to bring people together humanly and positively and serves higher civic goals.
What are some of the main weaknesses of structural functionalism in the context of sport?
1) Ahistorical: SF is a very here and now approach and ignores the historical pathways communities took to arrive at today.
2) Overemphasizes harmonious social relationships, diminishes conflict and hostility
3) Inability to explain change- lacks a notion of society as dynamic and shifting
4) Inability to explain stratification- overlooks the distribution of power in society
5) Overstates the enabling potential of sport- sport can be as constraining as it is enabling.
Why did sociological theory switch from Structural functionalism to conflict theory?
At the time, in the 60s, social evens became conflictual (feminist and civil rights movements). Social processes began to be explained more in terms of disequilibrium.
What is an example of class conflict in the NHL?
There was early exploitation of the players by greedy owners- need for a players association to protect financial, health, and other interests
According to Coakley, what are the 5 outcomes for sport under capitalism?
1) Alienation
2) Opiate of the masses
3) Commercialism and materialism
4) Nationalism/Militarism
5) Racism and Sexism
What is the idea of alienation?
Sport contributes towards forms of human alienation- athletes become alienated from their bodies and are controlled by owners and contracts. Plays are encouraged to play while inured, ignore pain. Athletes careers are determined by non-sport factors such as money, power, and politics.
How is sport an “opiate of the masses?”
Sport creates a distorted frame of reference and a false consciousness- this in turn distorts peoples thoughts about social life and directs attention away from pressing social problems (example: Expensive tickets). Shifts attention towards sports related factors such as win loss records, rivalries etc.
How does sport contribute to commercialism and materialism?
First: Sport is a product to be consumed- fitness booms (sexy clothing), club fees, jersey prices etc.
Second: Sport creates indirect profits as well as direct- TV sports with advertising. Sport is interconnected with other businesses.
How is sport connected to nationalism/militarism?
Sport helps inflate national pride to the point of xenophobia (fear of strangers) and jingoism (excessive nationalism). Sport as exacerbating and inflating national tensions. Sport also relates to militarism (loud and rowdy crowds, national anthems, military salutes, flags).
What are some of the main strenghts of conflict theory in the context of sport?
1) The material roots of sport: Sport cannot be separated from commercialization and corporatization.
2) Vertical societies and vertical sport: Sport mirrors the tiering of the social system around in terms of who gets to play and who gets to pay.
3) Historical development, social class, and exploitation. Sport as a central feature of capitalist expansion and class-based power elites (people who pull the strings)
What does Coakley refer to the NFL, NBA and MLB as?
Legal monopolies.
