PHSE 206 L1 Introduction to Sociology What is sociology? - The discipline Concerned with the systematic study of the development, organisation and operation of human societies- in short, with what social life is all about and how it can be explained. The scope of sociology is extremely wide from global society to the family. Issues involve power and inequality, social problems, social conflict and social change. It is against biological determinism. This is the position you take when you base ideas on nature (genes/dna etc). Example- A man s aggression could be innate, related to hormones. Or a sociologists point of view would suggest it is more related to masculinity and status. Sociology- idea of nurture on the agenda over nature. Kiwi attitude- advert for a babies pram. Innate - can do attitude. The add hooks onto the idea that it is a NZ made product. This is a socially derived idea. Tends to relate to how NZ s ideally would see themselves. Idea of NZ identity. Socially arrived at a way of thinking. Usually idealised. Ideas around gender- connotations feeding into dominant ideas about gender- pink box versus black box tissue example. Comparing PSYC and sociology Psyc has the emphasis more on cognition, individuals, motivations etc whereas sociology is related more to the norms, commonly accepted patterns of behaviour. They might ask similar questions e.g. violence in sport but the psycologists would focus on the individuals approach whereas sociologist to social patterns, norms, culture. A bigger picture outlook. It is a question of emphasis, there is overlap between the two disciplines. - The characteristics: We cannot approach society or social facts as we do objects or events in the natural world. The relationship between sociology and its subject matter is different from the natural sciences. Sociology is the study of social relations of people who operate from within those social relations. It is an interpretive science. We aren t a blank sheet of paper when it comes to understanding the world. Double challenge- understand the world but we have assumptions which can provide a barrier sometimes. May need to unlearn these assumptions. Challenge- we are social beings. - Tools: Gives us a series of concepts to think about sporting world. Theoretical approaches Research methods: These tools enable us to see behaviour as it is connected with history, politics, economics and cultural life.
! - Researching: getting data - Theorising: developing general concepts to explain the bigger picture Thinking sociologically 2 revolutions- French - Industrial These two revolutions helped to create the notion of sociology. Connection between individual and society. We need to understand both. Sociological imagination- thinking sociologically. 1) Critical Beyond commonly accepted understanding Fundamentally question Challenge our common sense Skeptical + reflective. Need to interrogate. 2) Historical understanding How did we arrive at the present 3) Comparative Understanding social interactions by making a comparison. Makes things bare i.e. can make a distinction more clear. A synthesis of structure and agency! Our understanding of human actions can only be developed when we tease out the complex interaction between the individual and the social structures in which he/she lives. Agency- individuals choices and motivation.
- methods - theories Sports also provide a window into culture and society. Why study sports as social phenomena? Sports are significant in people s lives Sports are connected with the major spheres of social life: media, family, economy, politics, education and religion. Sports are closely tied to cultural ideology in society i.e. the everyday logic people use to guide their ideas, behaviours and relationships. Dominant Cultural Ideology Represents the perspectives favoured by those with the most power and influence in society. - Competitive individualism - Neo liberalism- the individual pursuit of self-gain is understood to provide maximum benefits to the individual and society. Serves the interests of those with power and influence Sports consist of activities that can embrace or challenge particular ideologies. Usually they reflect the dominant ideology.! Sport is a contested activity. People challenge associated meanings with sport. It is struggled over and they are constantly evolving because of this. An example of a dominant cultural ideology is gender construction. Gender construction: prevailing notions of common sense about maleness and femaleness in a society. The dominant perspectives and ideas that people have about - Masculinity and femininity - Relationships between men and women - Sexuality and identity The relevance in sport? How bodies are meant to look. Or dominant stereotypes- female rugby players= lesbians. Sports as contested activities There are struggles over: Sports within our movement culture Which sports count the most- funding, exposure, status. The media play a huge role in this. The meaning, purpose and organisation of sports - who participates and the conditions under which sport participation occurs.
Frameworks for understanding and explaining the social world. - why the world is the way it is? - how it might be different? Why use them? They give us frameworks for: - asking research questions - interpreting information - uncovering deeper meanings Have practical implications because they help us make choices. Theory allows us to see things in a certain way. A good analogy is a lens. These can highlight/amplify/obscure certain things. There are also different types of lenses. Major social theories used to study sports in society: - Functionalist theory - Conflict theory (Marxism) - Feminist theories - Critical theory Functionalist theory: Organic Analogy Society made up of institutions e.g. family, state, education, economy etc. The institutions together form a whole (society). The organic analogy is that society is analogous to the human body. Functionalist- rooted in US between the fifties and seventies. It sees society as an organised system of institutions e.g. sport, family etc. Section of society. Society is like a jigsaw of institutions. The focus is on society not individuals. Functionalist theory: Function Function of an institution is to help society s maintenance and survival. Functional prerequisites- the basic needs of society: - Adaption to change, goal attainment, integration, pattern maintenance. Each deviance has a function - Punishment of deviance reminds others to conform to societal norms Functionalist theory: Structure Behaviour is structured by the needs of society The rules exist outside of individuals (society= sum of institutions) Relationships are governed by rules and there are recurring patterns in society. Institutions= structure created from interconnected roles and norms
E.g. family- relationships between roles of husband, wife, children. The functionalist theory emphasis comes from function of each institution- how they play a role in values. Health depends on parts and how they are integrated together. Functionalist Theory: Consensus Functionalism is a consensus approach. It emphasises stability and equilibrium, explores compatibility and integration between the parts of society. It assumes shared values and agreement are the basis of social order. Social order exists because individuals are integrated on the basis of value consensus. Socialisation and the cultural system help individuals learn norms and values. Sees society as metriocratic. This is where social status is based on ability and how hard you work being rewarded with wealth, power and status. Inequality is therefore necessary and good- some people don t work as hard as others so deserve less reward. Functionalist approaches to sport Sport is considered an institution - studied in terms of its contribution to the system - research focuses on sport participation and outcomes for individuals and society The normative consensus- sports contribution to maintenance of stability and social order. It identifies the job sport does for societal maintenance. Sport and functional imperatives I 1. adaptation System must adapt to changes Sport is consistent in face of change (help generate consensus) 2. Goal attainment Sport ensures societal goals are attained Capitalist economic system perpetuated Structure maintained 3. Integration Promoting inter-relationships between sport and other institutions Functional relationship between sport, leisure and work etc 4. Pattern maintenance Role of sport in socialisation and learning of culturally appropriate/common values. E.g. fair play, abide by the rules etc.
Applications to sport Forms the basis of a common sense view of sport Implicitly underpins official understandings of sport - promulgated by power brokers e.g. governments, SPARC, UN Largely rejected within sociology due to failure to evalute power Critique= reformulation Further notes from class: Brazil- lots of cleavages in society i.e. wealth. Soccer provides a place where the cleavages can be overcome. Can integrate through conflict on the field. Soccer provides a common religion almost, they all share the language of football. While it does reinforce social divides, it also overcomes them. Ultimately soccer is a way to unify the nation. If we buy the functional theory we value sport for its integrative function hence we promote it. Bring people into organised structural sport, increase numbers. We believe it will foster individual development. Keep an eye on elite athletes to make sure they maintain norms. Above is the sport world we see, sport is promoted.! L4 Symbolic Interactionism Society consists of organised and patterned interactions among individuals Through the process of communication symbolic interaction individuals develop their self-consciousness, and make society possible Emphasises the subjective meaning of human behaviour and social processes - Rather than the objective, macro-structural aspects of social systems Emphasises agents rather than society (in contrast to functionalists) - Sees humans as active participants who construct their social world, not as passive objects of socialization - View humans as pragmatic actors who continually adjust their behaviour - Research focuses on face-to-face interactions Symbolic Interactionism; Erving Goffman The emphasis on the social construction of society led to an interest in the roles people play (Erving Goffman, 1958. The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life) Explored the rules that govern the social encounters through which social order is produced and maintained - Identity formation Identities key factors as people interact and construct their social worlds