Description
Book SynopsisThe sociology of sport is a relatively new scientific discipline, which has spread rapidly and developed in different directions across the world. It investigates social behavior, social processes, and social structures in sport, as well as the relationship between sport and society. The book Introduction to the Sociology of Sport aims to give its readers a comprehensive overview of this fascinating topic. For this purpose, it shows the interrelations between sport and identity, social class, gender, socialization, social groups, (mass) communication, the economy, and politics. In addition, the book introduces a new, innovative theory that helps readers understand the social specificity and worldwide popularity of sport.
Trade Review“In adopting their approach, the authors widen the lens through which to critically study sport. This more global, theoretical, and comparative approach is academically laudable”. J. R. Mitrano, in Choice Connect, 2022.
Table of ContentsPreface Introduction 1 The subject matter of sociology 2 Sociology of sport: subject area, theoretical approaches, and different methods 3 Sport and society 3.1 Sport and culture: values in society and in sport 3.1.1 Sport and civilization 3.2 Expansion of sport, internal differentiation, and trends 4 Socialization and sport 4.1 Gender roles in sport 4.1.1 Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intergender (LGBTI) people in sport 4.2 Social stratification in sport 4.2.1 Physical habitus, somatic culture, and social distinction 4.2.2 Sports of the lower social classes 4.2.3 Sports of the upper social classes 5 Sport and the social group 5.1 Social processes in sport groups 5.1.1 Group size and group task in sport 5.1.2 Group cohesion in sport 5.2 Social facilitation 6 Sport, social recognition, and identity 6.1 Anthropological constants 6.1.1 World-openness 6.1.2 Excentricity 6.1.3 Pursuit of recognition 6.1.3.1 Durkheim’s study on suicides 6.2 Social recognition in sport 6.2.1 Recognition as a member of a group 6.2.2 Recognition in an ascribed role 6.2.3 Recognition in an achieved role 6.2.4 Recognition in a public role 6.2.5 Recognition of personal identity 6.3 African Americans in sport 6.4 Action and representation in society and in sport 6.5 Sport as a social phenomenon 7 Violence and doping in sport 8 Towards the joy of play and movement in sport 8.1 The flow experience in sport 9 Sport and communication 10 Sport spectators 10.1 Social integration 10.2 Identification 10.3 Experiencing suspense and showing intense emotions 10.4 Sport and religion 10.5 On aggression among sport spectators 10.5.1 Causes for aggressive behavior 10.5.2 History of violence in spectator sport 11 Sport and mass communication 11.1 Communicator research 11.2 Content analysis 11.2.1 Content analysis of television sport 11.2.2 Content analysis of sport reporting in newspapers 11.2.3 Sport reporting and gender 11.3 Media research 11.4 Audience research 11.4.1 Audience research in the United Kingdom 11.4.2 Audience research in the USA 11.4.3 Audience research in Australia 11.4.4 Motives for consuming media sport 11.5 Impact research 11.5.1 Theory of the omnipotence of the media 11.5.2 Theory of the relative ineffectiveness of the media 12 Sport and the economy 12.1 Sport marketing and mass media 13 Sport and politics 13.1 The power of sport: A theoretical approach 13.2 Sport, social integration, and national self-representation 13.3 Sport as a means of strengthening a nation 13.4 Sport boycotts 13.5 Sport, globalization, and Olympism
