why is our basic understanding of sport in society mostly “uncritical”?
- it tends to focus on the positive aspects of sport
- it tends to ignore social structures and institutions where problems arise
- it tends to unerestimate the societal potential and impact of sport
what are the three aspects to develop a good theory?
- testable
- open to critique
- approached with a broad rather than specific application
what was the first major sociological theory, and became very influential in society?
Functionalism
The roots of fuctionalism lie in the work of who?
Aususte Comte
Facts about Auguste Comte and functionalism
- He was a positivist
(thinks that there is one reality, ultimate truth, quantitative methods, etc.)
- believed that society could be studied like a hard science
Who was influenced by Comte and what did he believe?
- Emile Durkheim
- Believef in “social facts”:
cultural norms and social structures that influence people’s actions
- Would search for correlations between social facts and prescribe remedies
ex: suicide rates are lower for Catholcs than Protestants, so everyone should be Catholic
what are the two mechanisms that are in place to “redirect” those who engage in “dysfunctional” behaviour?
1) to be reintegrated into functional society, through punishment/ rehabilitation
2) to help others remain within the bounds of functional society, serving as an example of what not to do
how is continuity and stability achieved?
- socialization
- socializing
Functionalists call these “functional imperatives”
AKA without them, society would collapse
what is socialization?
learning/being taught the basic societal norms, values and rules of behaviour
what is socializing?
Sharing ideas and norms of behaviour is an effective, controlling people and creating a cohesive society
Who is Norbert Elias?
- not a functionalist
- believed to destroy myths and ideologies
what is political rhetoric?
promotes sport in functionalist ways
how do corporations promote sport as being positive?
promotes this ideology through advertising
- ex: tv commericals that glorify sport
what are some flaws that functionalism suffers from thoretically?
- philiosophical underpinning
- contemporary bias
- consensus bias
what is philisophical underpinning?
viewing society through a positivist lens
what is contemporary bias?
unhistorical/a-historical “processes” reduced to “states”
what is consensus bias?
- over-emphasis on consensus of values and ideals among people
- ignores the importance of conflict to force progress
- over-emphasis on positive functions
