KIN 3305 1st Edition Lecture 8 Social Theories Applied to Sport cont Outline of Previous Lecture I The Age of Technology and Mass Communication Social Theories Applied to Sport II Social Theories III Functionalism a Basic Assumption b Perceived Benefits and Outcomes of Sport Participation Functionalist view Outline of Current Lecture I Conflict Theory II Critical Theory III Interactionist Theory Current Lecture I Conflict Theory a Calls attention to contradictions dilemmas controversies and tensions in society b Sport viewed as a diversionary element or opiate c Sport used to take participants and spectators minds off of real world problems issues and conditions ex recreation centers in ghetto areas d Unlike functional theory focus is on how sports reflect the unequal distribution of power and economic resources and how this system is perpetuated e Economic power is an important aspect These notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor s lecture GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes not as a substitute f Class relations are of major concern g Draws attention to the neg consequences of sport and the need for radical changes in sport and society h Purports to make sport more humane creative and expressive as well as enhance physical well being i Proponents lauded because they have called attention to many problems in sport and the need for change Woods 2011 j Attempts to acquaint players and spectators with how they may be manipulated and oppressed by those who stand to profit from sport i Health initiatives k Supportive of player s associations and unions l Vehicles for change m Unions and players associations n Distribute power and wealth within a given society o Basic Assumption i Social order is based on economic interests and economic power ii Money wealth and economic power shape society and are major factors in how it operates iii Sports are shaped by the structure of the economic system in society p Important Points i Major focus how sports used by powerful people to promote attitudes and relationships that enable them to maintain their power and privilege ex team owners and free agency team owners and new franchises US and Olympic competition etc ii Like functional theory conflict theory assumes that society is driven and shaped by specific needs the needs are market economic or capital needs iii Functionalism views the needs as order balance and stability q Perceived Benefits and Outcomes i Exposes some of the myths and unfounded assumptions perpetuated in sport ii Sheds light on the structural underpinnings of sport and sport involvement iii Conceivably empowers disenfranchised groups via system questioning iv Provides an alternative perspective for analyzing sport r Limitations and shortcomings i Assumes that all social life Is driven and shaped by economic forces ii Ignores demographics age sex ethnicity etc as factors influencing the ways people think about themselves iii Emulates a strict Marxist view everything revolves around class relationships iv Paints a grim landscape of sport many view it as too negative v Those who are critical of American society and the status quo will most often endorse conflict theoretical perspective II Critical Theory ies a Sport is more than a reflection of society b Alternatives to functional and conflict theories c Tend to be more flexible and contemporary d May be distinct specific or eclectic multiple theories e Includes feminists neo marxists and culturalists f Tend to focus and attempt to explain culture power and social relations g Concerned with how sports affect the processes through which people develop and maintain cultural ideologies i Research often attempts to focus on why sports have taken on certain forms and how and why they were organized in certain ways ii Research addresses ways to make society more fair equitable democratic and open to diversity h Basic Assumptions i Social life is not driven or shaped by specific needs or factors 1 No universal explanation of social life ii A specific concern of critical theorists is power in society 1 Emphasis may be placed on 1 origin of power 2 functional aspects of power and 3 how power shifts or is transferred iii Critical theorists contend that sport and society are constantly evolving 1 Sport changes as historical political and economic forces change 2 Sport changes as social forces in a given society change ex ethnicity women etc i Sport structures privilege certain groups over others i Like conflict theorists critical theorists perceive sport to be socially constructed j Limitations i General theoretical guidelines are unclear and not definitely established ii Predisposition to see value in all resistant alternative discourses iii Theoretical Diversity k Conclusions i Critical theories are always emerging and evolving perspectives that lack identified long term goals ii They are responsive to contemporary issues and provide political action to address social organizational problems iii Most researchers studying sport today are using varying critical theories iv Activism and political involvement are key aspects III Interactionist Theory a Focus on how people develop meanings and identities pertaining to sport participation via interactions b Emphasis placed on how developed meanings and identities are influenced confirmed and disconfirmed by behaviors and social relationships with others c Symbolic interaction serves as viable example of interactionist theory d Symbolic Interaction i Human behavior involves choice ii Choices are based on meanings or definitions of situations that people create via interactions iii Individuals help us define our world iv The self is an important aspect v May be combined with critical theories e Research approach i Qualitative research methods used to gather data on how people develop and interpret their social worlds 1 Observations participant and or non participant 2 Personal interviews and ethnography 3 Archival research i e document review f Important Considerations i Prolonged engagement ii Going native iii Fieldwork