Socialisation and Physical EducationSHL4302: Sociology of Sport

Paul Salisbury

Introduction This lecture aims to define the concept

of socialisation and allow you to relate it your own experiences.

The underpinning questions Why do some people take part in sport

and some do not?

Why do some people succeed and some do not?

Is it about what we have learned, or our physical and psychological capabilities?

Nature vs NurtureNature (socio-biology) Nurture (sociology)

Our capacity for sporting action is inborn

Our capacity for sporting action is learned

Competition, humans vs human or humans vs the physical world is a natural condition of life

The natural condition of modern life is that it is socially and culturally constructed

Human instincts and needs have shaped sport

All aspects of sport are learned and taught (including compeition)

Much of how we behave in sport is ‘pre-programmed’ (e.g. fight or flight)

Sporting behaviours have to be learned and the socialisation process starts as soon as a child is born.

Nature vs Nurture in Context

Jaden Gil Son of Andre Agassi and

Steffi Graf. 100/1 to win Wimbledon. Why?

‘pedigree’ or socialisation?

Socialisation ‘the on-going process whereby individuals

learn and/or are taught to conform to the existing system of norms and values’

In sport: ‘a process that, through an individual’s

involvement in sport, teaches and reinforces knowledge, values and norms that are essential to participate in social life’ (Craig and Mellor, 2010: 93).

Questions Why is the English Rugby

Union team made up largely of players from white, middle-class backgrounds?

Why are there very few black/Asian elite British tennis players?

The answers would appear to lie in socialisation.

Socialisation from birth What toys do you

remember playing with from a really young age?

Why did your parents/guardians buy these for you?

Social Institutions and Social Norms Every society has a set of stable and interrelated

structures through which we work out our own place in the world: Education system Sports Economy Families Government

These provide us with ‘social norms’ Accepted ‘proper’ forms of behaviour (in life and in sport)

Dedication Playing by the rules Sportsmanship Teamwork

Competition and Co-operation When we are socialised in

to sport, we gain an understanding of: Competition, and Co-operation

Generally, we all accept these as crucial elements of sport, But, we disagree about the

relative importance of each

Win at all costs? Billy Collins vs Louis Resto

The process of socialisation Three factors contribute to us entering

the world of sport:1. Our abilities and characteristics2. The influence of ‘significant others’

Who might they be? Parents, teachers, siblings, peers.

3. The availability of opportunities to play.

The Family Critical in the socialisation

process Shaping interests Financial and emotional

support Role models

A note on gender There is a noticeable difference between

how boys and girls are socialised Boys think that their sporting achievements

please their parents. (less so with girls)

Teachers perceive boys to be ‘better’ at sport than girls (but this doesn’t apply to other subjects)

Result = girls less likely to play sport, especially ‘male’ sports.

Concluding comments Socialisation theory indicates that we are

not ‘free’ to choose whether we become interested in sport, or which sports we play.

The social world, using social institutions to create social norms teach us what is expected of us.

Often our gender, class or ethnicity determine how we view the world, including sport.

Further Reading Craig, P. and Mellor, G. (2010) Sport.

Physical education and socialisation. in Craig, P. and Beedie, P. (eds.) Sport Sociology, 2nd edit. Exeter: Learning Matters, pp91-113.