KIN 3305 1st Edition Lecture 19 Deviance and Sport Winning At All Costs cont Outline of Previous Lecture I Issues and Controversies Regarding Deviance in Sport II Who determines deviant behavior III Maxim 1 There is a thin line between deviance and acceptance Outline of Current Lecture I Maxim 1 There is a thin line between deviance and acceptance II Problems Studying Deviance III Applying Theoretical Frameworks IV Questions V Theories Current Lecture In class excerpt Ridgeway High player eliminated from campus when a fake mother transmitted fake transcript to the school in order to stay in the sport I II III Maxim 1 There is a thin line between deviance and acceptance a Sports Medicine a relatively new industry primarily designed to study diagnose and treat injuries specifically associated with sport and fitness related activities b Consumptive Deviance actions and appearances that suggest acts of deviance without producing any real negative consequences for those involve i Staged deviant acts e g wrasling matches Problems Studying Deviance a Diverse in nature i e types and causes b Varies depending upon milieu norms c Unquestioned acceptance of norms rein d Science and technology precede detection e Sanctioning agencies may not be inclusive Applying Theoretical Frameworks a When used actual behavior is often compared to a designated norm b The greater the actiual behavior is from the norm the more deviant behavior is said to be 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 IV V VI VII VIII Questions a What is the ideal b Is the ideal consistent in all sports cultures genders social classes etc Theories a Absolutist Approach aka Structural Functionalist i Basic Assumptions 1 When behaviors of individuals involved in sport physical activities do not adhere to prescribed ideals rules or norms they are deemed deviant a Deviance viewed as the failure to conform to societal norms or the departure from cultural ideals b Havior deemed either right or wrong c Arbitrarily separates rule followers from rule violators d Severe punishment and sanctions beget behavioral conformity e Assumes people violate rules because they lack certain societal attributes i e moral character sound judgment intelligence and sanity Discussion a Theory seems to apply best to extreme cases of sport deviance e g Detroit Pistons Indiana Pacers altercation Monica Seles stabbing etc b Theory subscribes to an austere law and order orientation e g rule enforcement and severe penalties c Critics argue theory has not yet proved to be very successful in understanding deviant behavior or developing programs to address deviance in sport e g rules and sanctions regarding drug use illegal collegiate recruiting violence etc d Perceived ultraconservative approach to deviance Possible Shortcomings a Emphasis does not appear to be on finding the cause s of the problem but eradicating the bahvior with extensive sanctions b Assumes that the existing value system and rules are unquestionably rights and fair and should be accepted as documented c When actions do not match cultural ideals individuals may be deemed deviant Relativist Approach akin to Conflict Theory a Basic Assumptions i No behavior is inherently deviant 1 Perceived as relative ii Deviance defined via a labeling process whereby some behaviors or people are deemed bad undesirable or unacceptable based on rules made by those in power 1 Deviance viewed as behavior that violates interests of people with economic power and influence IX X XI XII XIII iii Individuals lacking economic power are frequently disadvantaged handicapped or disenfranchised 1 They rarely have input in rule making and enforcement iv Disenfranchised most apt to be deemed deviant due to arbitrary rule development 1 e g Society MLK Sport NBA Coaches and microphones Discussion a Theoretical approach embraced by conflict theorists i Contends that many rules and aspects in sport organizations cater to the economic interests of owners sponsors and league officials ii Athletes laborers interests are often ignored and or compromised e g Astroturf b Athletes viewed as victims due to structure of sport i Athletes alternatives include 1 disagreement and 2 rebellion c Perceived as ultraliberal approach to deviance Shortcomings a The notion of a labeling process influenced and determined by those in power biased norms i Overgeneralization of organizational structures b The premise that all established forms of social control are oppressive c Approach doesn t seem to identify any behavior as objectively deviant d Nothing appears to be viewed as bad or wrong in and of itself Personal commentary a The Relative or Conflict Theory approach to deviance appears to be an overly liberal approach so liberal that it may be debilitating and condescending b If deviance is relative at what point Is behavior deemed deviant c This perspective can be debilitating and condescending when various behaviors are habitually justified excused and ignored d Example athletes physical confrontations and altercations merely letting off steam Remember a The Relativist Approach may be as liberal as the Absolutist Approach is conservative b Maxim 2 There is a thin line between deviance and brilliance Critical Normal Distribution Approach Constructivist Approach a Basic Assumptions b Deviance viewed on a continuum i Ranged from positive to negative 1 Ranges from positive to negative ii The normal bell shaped curve 1 Mechanism for analyzing deviance iii Deviance viewed as behavior falling well outside range of accetance iv Deviance viewed as negative underconformity and positive overconformity v Comprised of cultural interactionist and structural theories