Sociological Perspectives in Sport Flashcards
What is the naturalistic approach to behaviour?
We can’t control what happens to us, it is a product of our innate behaviour, inherited predispositions and biology.
What is the individualistic approach to behaviour?
Human behaviour creates the world and understandings of the worlds that we live in. Everyone is different and how we behaviour is a product of our own individual behaviour, it is not a product of a shared phenomenon (such as genes).
Why might some take part in some sport rather than others?
Sociology – norms and values
Psychology – individual motivation
Biology – physical attributes, genes, characteristics
What does a sociological approach towards behaviour look like?
Sociology looks at patterns in behaviour which theories help us to make sense of and understand the social world and establish meanings. Meanings established in sport can affect our behaviour and participation. Sociology searches for patterns, explanations and meanings.
What is the idea of a social constructionist perspective?
Events and meanings are socially constructed meaning that they are defined and shaped by the current society they belong in. As a result, meanings can vary of time and location amongst other individuals. Sociology tries to understand such meanings and how they are created.
What are social theories?
These are assumptions about behaviour and meanings in society. They ask the questions about why the world is the way it is and assess how have meanings and assumptions been applied by different groups. Theories involve 3 different things: they tell us how society functions, allows us to reflect on and analyse social phenomena and they help guide us on choices we make during research and how we view something.
What makes up our identity and how is it formed?
Identity is a product of socialisation and consists of key characteristics that allow us to identify with certain social groups. Such characteristics include gender, social class, ethnicity, ability, religion, age, culture, sexuality. Our identity can privilege or disadvantage us in sports.
How are social problems formed?
Social problems vary depending on which sociological framework and perspective it is that we adopt. Depending on social theory we use, it influences how we see the world. Feminists would view gender inequality as a social problem whereas Marxists would view the unequal distribution of wealth as a social problem within a capitalist society.
What are the core principles of functionalism?
Institutions in society are organised which helps it to function smoothly. It assumes that shared values and agreement (value consensus), create social order.
Sports are studied according to its functional contributions to society and individuals. Powerful influences in sport favour it as functionalism ensures stability and social cohesion which is beneficial to them as their position will not be overthrown.
Functionalists adopt the concept of organic analogy which is based on the idea that the organs in a biological animal all function together. When one organ doesn’t work properly, it affects the entire organ system and can have detrimental impacts on the individual’s health. Organs, here, represent the institutions in society so if an institution fails to work properly, it leads to the collapse of the entire society.
Sport is essentially a socialisation agent.
However, it only focuses on the positive functions of these institutions for the individual and wider society. For example, having the NHS allows free healthcare but they would ignore the fact that certain identities have different experiences within healthcare (ethnic minorities).
Why might athletes be punished by their clubs for misbehaviour, according to functionalists?
They are causing the breakdown of society. Something they do in their life can affect wider society if left unchallenged and uncorrected. If everything in society is interconnected, sport is connected to people’s personal and individual behaviour and such negativity can impact society as a whole. If an institution isn’t needed, it gets replaced. When everything in interconnected, punishment affects everything e.g. club image and revenue or public perceptions of sport in general.
What are the core principles of Marxism?
Marxism is a conflict-economic theory based on the fact that there are unequal power relations between the bourgeoisie and proletariat. What the proletariat do, benefits the ruling class. Marxists point towards class consciousness and highlight the need to increase awareness of the inequalities in society so the WC can take back the means of production.
In terms of sports, they suggest that both society and sports are shaped by economic forces and by those who hold this economic power. Economic power dynamics bring inequalities to certain individuals and privilege others. Those who have wealth and power in sports, are the ones whose needs are met. Those in power can determine where money goes in sport. Marxists assume that sport, exercise and fitness can legitimate the unequal distribution of power and wealth in society. Sport reinforces the needs of the wealthy and powerful, disadvantaging those who can’t afford it/certain sports which consequently limits their participation.
The MC are against Marxism as it jeopardies their economic position e.g. fans at Manchester United don’t have a say where the club’s money goes, only the two managers do and this has created tensions and unrest amongst the club. Individuals in sport and athletes are seen as commodities that can be thrown away at any time by the MC when they are not needed. Those who hold power can decide which athletes hold value. This is a prominent feature in football where astronomical prices on placed on players. It shows how economics and material wealth is heavily influential on sports.
Marxists theories in relation to sport are rarely acknowledged due to the fact that it encourages social change and those in power are against this. It presents sport as something that legitimates inequality which does not reflect the widespread norms that sport is available and accessible to all.
What are the core principles of interactionism?
Society is based on social interaction and meanings ascribed to people, relationships and things within society. Sports are applied meanings which vary amongst individuals and interactionism ais to understand these meanings which influences their identity, experiences of sport and participation.
They are interested in the concept of identity, how others perceive it and attach labels to it and social phenomena which influences how they behave.
Interactionists concern themselves with what social processes affect sports involvement and participation, how do people develop and maintain athlete identities and what meanings are attached to sport and what makes up sporting subcultures.
Interactionists are interested in how athletes perceive themselves, how others in the sporting industry influence how they perceive themselves as athletes and, what happens to their identities when threatened.
When we feel threatened, meanings and labels can influence how we reveal ourselves to others in different contexts. E.g. if we aren’t on the starting team, and the team is doing well, we cheer them on even though we hate to do so and if they aren’t doing well, we are pleased but still have to cheer them on for their sake. Context thus determines the meanings ascribed to different situations.
