3. Sport and socialisation-3

Sport and Socialisation

Overview of Lecture Structure

  • Topics to be discussed:

    • Socialisation and sport

    • Socialisation into sport: entering participation

    • Socialisation through sport: effects of involvement

    • Socialisation out of sport: ceasing participation

Reflection Questions

  • What/who inspired you to play sports?

  • What/who influenced your choice to follow a specific team?

Understanding Socialisation

State of Nature Concept

  • Imagining humanity:

    • Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan: Discusses human nature in a natural state.

Definition and Importance of Socialisation

  • Core ideas:

    • Humans exist in a society; interaction shapes behavior.

    • Societies governed by values, norms, and rules.

    • Socialisation involves learning to navigate society, maintaining free will within constraints.

Theories of Socialisation

Definitions by Coakley

  • Functionalist/Conflict Approach:

    • Internalisation model: Learning to integrate into society.

    • Social Learning Theory: Bandura's experiment highlights interaction and learning.

  • Critical and Interactionist Approach:

    • Social learning occurs through both interaction and social environment adaptation.

Agents of Socialisation

  • Significant Others:

    • Reference persons with strong emotional influence, as per George H. Mead.

Traditional Agents of Socialisation

  • Family: Parents and siblings

  • Peers

  • Educational institutions

  • Religious organisations

  • Media

  • Workplace

  • Local community

Recent Agents of Socialisation

  • Internet and social media

  • Consumption culture (brands, advertising)

  • Celebrity culture (role models)

  • Increased travel and exposure

Socialisation into Sport

Importance of Socialisation in Sports

  • Examples of socialisation in sport:

    • Understanding the role of agents in engaging with sports.

Recent Developments in Sport

  • Catherine Martin TD's Statement:

    • Promotion of women’s sports and accessibility of sporting events.

    • Emphasis on national connection through collective viewing experiences.

Reflections and Experiences in Sports

  • Reflect on who/what inspired involvement in sports or support for teams.

  • Examine personal choice in these engagements.

Central Topics in Sports and Socialisation

  • Key Focus Areas:

    • Process of entering and staying involved in sports.

    • Impacts of participation.

    • Transitions out of sport.

Theoretical Frameworks

Factors Influencing Participation in Sport

  • Theories Highlighting Key Factors:

    • Significant others, social agencies, available opportunities, and personal attributes influence participation.

  • Social Learning Theory: Interactionist model exploring individual learning in a sporting context.

Interactionist Model of Socialisation

  • Importance of shared meanings and social competence in shaping sporting identities and experiences.

Aspects of Socialisation into Sport

Stages of Involvement (Coakley and White)

  • Factors Affecting Participation Decisions:

    • Environments, support, identity issues, recognition desires, past experiences, and cultural images.

Children’s Involvement in Sports (Coté and Hay)

  • Development Stages:

    1. Sampling Years (early childhood):

      • Fostering motor skills through multiple sports.

    2. Specialisation (early teens):

      • Focus shifts to one or two sports while maintaining enjoyment.

    3. Investment (mid-late teens):

      • Commitment to achieving higher performance in chosen sport.

    4. Recreative Years:

      • Shift to enjoyment and health rather than elite performance.

Continued Participation in Sport

Influences on Involvement Through Stages of Life

  • Childhood to Teenage Transition:

    • Role of parents initially, then shift to peer influence.

    • Perception of physical competence as crucial for social acceptance.

Socialisation Through Sport

Ways in which Sport Socialises Individuals

  • Impact of Continuing Engagement:

    • Development of identity and alignment with sport culture—values, behaviors, and lifestyle choices.

Phases of Acceptance Within a Sport Culture (Donnelly and Young)

  1. Knowledge acquisition about the sport.

  2. Building associations with current participants.

  3. Learning expectations and behaviors peculiar to the sport.

  4. Attainment of acceptance by established participants.

Outcomes of Socialisation in Sport

  • Positive Outcomes:

    • Physical, psychological, social, and cultural benefits.

  • Negative Outcomes:

    • Deviant behaviors associated with sport ethic; discrimination affecting participation opportunities (gender, race, class).

Ending Sport Participation

Reasons for Ceasing Participation

  • Voluntary Factors:

    • Disinterest, burnout, retirement.

  • Involuntary Factors:

    • Injuries, team exclusions.

Dynamics of Leaving Sport

  • Complex reactions from family and peers, especially if significant investment was made in the athlete's participation.

Re-socialisation Processes

Challenges of Transitioning Away from Sport

  • Role exit can lead to identity crises, loss of social status, or lack of career planning post-sport.

Exercises and Reflection Questions

  • Duty of Organisations:

    • Querying the responsibility of professional and amateur sport organisations towards re-socialising former athletes.

  • Gender and Sport Participation:

    • Investigating societal factors influencing participation rates and performance perceptions between genders.