Section 1B

Question 1

What are some of the main things theory allows us to do? (8)

Answer 1

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

Question 2

What does sociological theory deal with?

Answer 2

How social stability and social conflict grow out of power relations and social stratification

Question 3

What are the 3 main sociological theories when studying sociology of sport?

Answer 3

1) Structural functionalism
2) Conflic theory (Orthodox Marxism)
3) Neo Marxism (critical theory or cultural studies)

Question 4

What are functions and dysfunctions according to Robert Merton and Talcott Parsons (structural functionalism)

Answer 4

Functions: Parts of social processes that contribute to social order
Dysfunctions: Parts of social processes that contribute to disorder.

Question 5

Why is structural functionalism also referred to as the organic model (or systems/order model?)

Answer 5

Views social processes much like a body, watch or clock. Neither can operate smoothly without all their normal parts working in harmony together.

Question 6

According to Talcott Parsons, what are the 4 functional imperatives required for a successful and smooth running social system?

Answer 6

1) Pattern Maintenance and Tension management
2) Integration
3) Goal attainment
4) Adaptation

Question 7

What is pattern maintenance?

Answer 7

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.

Question 8

What is tension mangement?

Answer 8

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.

Question 9

What is integration?

Answer 9

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/

Question 10

What is the idea of goal attainment according to structural functionalism?

Answer 10

Sport helps to legitimize and confirm appropriate objectives of society such as to give it your all, no pain no gain, etc.

Question 11

What is the idea of adaptation?

Answer 11

Sport helps us adapt to a challenging and changing world, learning how to lose and be second best, survival skills, modern replacement for war.

Question 12

What are manifest functions?

Answer 12

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.

Question 13

What are latent functions?

Answer 13

Frequently covert, unintended, and unrecognized consequences- example: Perpetuation of myths or cruel hoaxes regarding the reality of social advancement via sports achievements.

Question 14

What are the 3 key advantages of structural functionalism as it applies to sport?

Answer 14

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.

Question 15

What are some of the main weaknesses of structural functionalism in the context of sport?

Answer 15

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.

Question 16

Why did sociological theory switch from Structural functionalism to conflict theory?

Answer 16

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.

Question 17

What is an example of class conflict in the NHL?

Answer 17

There was early exploitation of the players by greedy owners- need for a players association to protect financial, health, and other interests

Question 18

According to Coakley, what are the 5 outcomes for sport under capitalism?

Answer 18

1) Alienation
2) Opiate of the masses
3) Commercialism and materialism
4) Nationalism/Militarism
5) Racism and Sexism

Question 19

What is the idea of alienation?

Answer 19

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.

Question 20

How is sport an “opiate of the masses?”

Answer 20

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.

Question 21

How does sport contribute to commercialism and materialism?

Answer 21

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.

Question 22

How is sport connected to nationalism/militarism?

Answer 22

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).

Question 23

What are some of the main strenghts of conflict theory in the context of sport?

Answer 23

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)

Question 24

What does Coakley refer to the NFL, NBA and MLB as?

Answer 24

Legal monopolies.

Question 25

What are some of the main weaknesses with conflict theory in the context of sport?

Answer 25

1) Poorly received by students in that Marxist ideas can seem utopian, unrealistic, and radical.
2) Exaggerates the negative effect of power and control
3) Anti commercial trends in sport- several NFL and CFL clubs are community owned, fans have a say in ticket prices and stadium matters. Sport also devises innovative trends to oppose dominant leagues like the NFL and NBA (X games, counter culture sports like wind surfing)
4) Economically reductionist- only explains social processes in terms of economic matters.

Question 26

What does Coakley refer to Structural functionalism and conflict theory as in relation to sport?

Answer 26

1) SF as an inspiration (functional imperatives, integration)
2) Conflict theory as an opiate (false consciousness, social control etc).

Question 27

What themes did Theodor Adorno, Max Horkheimer, and Herbert Marcuse use to try to explain social control under capitalism?

Answer 27

1) Authoritarianism (Social organizations in sport are often led by charismatic or dominant leaders)
2) False consciousness (People support regimes that exploit them)
3) Ideological indoctrination (we comply with ideologies that actually hurt us (no pain no gain))

Question 28

What is the idea of discipline from the inside? (Marcuse)

Answer 28

The way that social systems subtly control our behaviour in ways that actually exploit us (example: Gyms where females work out to one and males work out to bulk- body regimes that are culturally appropriate and prized).

Question 29

What did Antonio Gramsci emphasize with Hegemony Theory?

Answer 29

Structures of dominance and manufacture of consent

Question 30

What is the concept of hegemony?

Answer 30

Refers to a world view that most people think is difficult or impossible to change- includes taken for granted perspectives.

Question 31

Is hegemony complete or contested in the context of (dominant) sport?

Answer 31

Hegemony is always contested- in sport we see a constant struggle over what sport is and how it should be.

Question 32

What is the idea behind critical theory? (Stuart Hall)

Answer 32

Society can be explained by focusing less on economic factors and more on culture and ideology. Emphasis on human agency, the simultaneous nature of conflict and integration, institutions like sport can accomplish multiple things at the same time. Contested terrain.

Question 33

How does sport inform cultural ideology according to Coakley and vice versa?

Answer 33

How we define pleasure, pain, excellence, sexuality, masculinity, femininity, and what is important to us