Deviance in Sport
George Churchill
Sociology SSP325
Marc Lawton
Deviance and the Athlete: Causes in Sports Society
Due Date: 18th December 2008
Word Count: 2578
Contents Page
1. Introduction 3-5
2. Theories Behind Deviance in Sport 5-6
Conflict and Critical theories
3. Causes of Deviance 6-8
Education System, Overconformity & Gambling
4. Sport Ethic 8-10
Underconformity, Positive Deviance, Varsity Blues & Mary Decker Slaney
5. Drug Use 10-11
Banned Substances, Tom Simpson & Information Network
6. Conclusion 11-12
7. References 13
8. Appendices 14-17
Deviance and the Athlete: Causes in Sports Society
Introduction
The forms and causes of deviance in sport are so diverse that no single theory can explain all of them (Blackshaw and Crabbe, 2004). What is accepted in sports as the norm may be seen as deviant in other spheres of society and what is seen as the norm in society can largely be seen as deviant in sports. Only on a racing track can you drive at speeds over 200 miles per hour at high risk of collision, outside the racing track it would be seen as a criminal offence. The social vacuum that has been created around sports is significantly proven to be different from the society we live in day by day. Deviance in sport can be argued, involves unquestioned acceptance of what is termed as the norms, when a social world accepts actions performed as routine and normal.
Actions as such in a sporting society may involve hatred and physical contact as means of motivation, treatment by coaches and actions from spectators that would be rejected as the norm in another social world. Athletes usually commit to accept advice from important people in their lives without questioning them, and it is overconforming to these norms that can result in an athlete being too committed to the goals and norms of sport usually leading to extreme actions.
Throughout
Sociology SSP325
Marc Lawton
Deviance and the Athlete: Causes in Sports Society
Due Date: 18th December 2008
Word Count: 2578
Contents Page
1. Introduction 3-5
2. Theories Behind Deviance in Sport 5-6
Conflict and Critical theories
3. Causes of Deviance 6-8
Education System, Overconformity & Gambling
4. Sport Ethic 8-10
Underconformity, Positive Deviance, Varsity Blues & Mary Decker Slaney
5. Drug Use 10-11
Banned Substances, Tom Simpson & Information Network
6. Conclusion 11-12
7. References 13
8. Appendices 14-17
Deviance and the Athlete: Causes in Sports Society
Introduction
The forms and causes of deviance in sport are so diverse that no single theory can explain all of them (Blackshaw and Crabbe, 2004). What is accepted in sports as the norm may be seen as deviant in other spheres of society and what is seen as the norm in society can largely be seen as deviant in sports. Only on a racing track can you drive at speeds over 200 miles per hour at high risk of collision, outside the racing track it would be seen as a criminal offence. The social vacuum that has been created around sports is significantly proven to be different from the society we live in day by day. Deviance in sport can be argued, involves unquestioned acceptance of what is termed as the norms, when a social world accepts actions performed as routine and normal.
Actions as such in a sporting society may involve hatred and physical contact as means of motivation, treatment by coaches and actions from spectators that would be rejected as the norm in another social world. Athletes usually commit to accept advice from important people in their lives without questioning them, and it is overconforming to these norms that can result in an athlete being too committed to the goals and norms of sport usually leading to extreme actions.
Throughout
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