Sociology of Sport Flashcards

Flashcards from Sociology of Sport lecture notes.

Sociology

The systematic study of human society and social interaction. Studies factors that exist outside and around the athlete.

Auguste Comte

Father of Sociology, who wanted to find the 'invariable natural law' of society to create a new order.

Herbert Spencer

Suggested that society is like an organism evolving from simple to complex, an idea known as 'Social Darwinism' based on Darwin's theory of biological evolution, correlating with Functionalism.

Social Darwinism

The idea that society evolves from simple to complex, based on Darwin's theory of biological evolution.

Karl Marx

Saw society as a continuous conflict and change, believing it followed historical laws determined by economic forces, leading to socialism after capitalism.

Play

Free participation, separate from specific places, uncertain outcomes, unproductive (no material rewards), and make-believe roles.

Agon

Competition - attempt to establish mental or physical superiority over rivals within the rules of the game.

Alea

Chance - luck or fate is more important than ability or skill.

Mimicry

Pretense - activities in which children and adults participate as part of their socialization experience.

Vertigo

Ilinx - experiences in which one transcends or loses a sense of self.

Sport

Derives from the Latin root 'desporto' (to carry away), involves competition, has intrinsic rewards, goals are fun and pleasure, structured, has history and tradition, and is institutionalized.

Secularism (in modern sport)

Emphasis on material (economic) and social success (prestige).

Equality of opportunity (in modern sport)

Everybody can participate.

Role Specialization (in modern sport)

Expertise in specific roles.

Rationalization (in modern sport)

Rules specifying the nature of competition.

Bureaucratization (in modern sport)

Formal organization (e.g., IOC, BAM).

Quantification (in modern sport)

Measurement (e.g., 1st place, champion, 2nd place).

Quest for record breaking (in modern sport)

Research to enhance performance.