Deviance in Sport
Coakley, J. (2004). Sports in society:
Issues and Controversies. 8th ed. New
York: McGraw- Hill.
Deviance in Sport
Defining Deviance in Sport
Studying Deviance in Sport
Deviance Among Athletes
Deviant Overconformity in Sports
Implications of Deviance in Sport
Deviance in Sport
Difficulties associated with studying deviance
– Deviance in sport can not be described by a single
theory
– Deviance in sport is not always congruent with
deviance in society
– Unquestioned acceptance of norms
– Training and performance have become
“medicalized”
Defining and Studying
Deviance in Sport
Three primary approaches
– Functionalist Theory
– Conflict Theory
– Interactionist and Critical Theories
Functionalist Theory
Deviance disrupts shared values
Deviance-failure to conform
– Departure from cultural ideals
Failure to learn and internalize cultural beliefs and norms
Conflicts and strains within society
– Sport’s cultural ideals and norms
Improving skills, reaching goals, commitment
Deviance results from rejecting sport norms
– Problems with Functionalist Theory
Conflict Theory
Deviance interferes with the interests of people
with economic power
Deviance-behavior that violates interests of people
with power
– Social order and norms are based on those who hold the
most power
Violation results in deviance
Individuals without power are disadvantaged
– Sport’s norms and rules represent those of power and
ignore athletes
Athletes as victims that are forced to be deviant
– Problems with Conflict Theory
Interactionist and
Critical Theories
Deviance is based on social processes and
power relations
Deviance-ideas, behaviors and characteristics
outside of the normally accepted range
Continuum of deviance:
– Underconformity-ignoring or rejecting norms
– Overconformity-unquestioned acceptance
– Normal range of acceptance falls between underconformity and
overconformity
Calls attention to Sport Ethic
Sport Ethic
Norms accepted as the dominant criteria for
defining an athlete
– An athlete makes sacrifices for the game
– An athlete strives for distinction
– An athlete accepts risks and plays through pain
– An athlete accepts no limits in the pursuit of
possibilities
Deviant Overconformity
Reasons for deviant overconformity
– Athletes will do anything to participate as long as
possible
– Praise, accolades and rewards associated with
overconformity
– Drama and excitement
– Establishment of strong bonds
Deviant Overconformity
Common characteristics of overconformers
– Low self-esteem
– Eager for acceptance
– Chance for achievement and establishing oneself
Group demands and memberships
Deviant Overconformity
Linkage between deviant overconformity to the
sport ethic and deviant underconformity within
society
– Binge drinking, group crimes, harassment, coercing
other to engage in deviant behavior
Controlling deviant overconformity
– Deviant overconformity is often advantageous for
coaches, parents, sponsors, owners, etc.
– Control requires a commitment to the establishment
of acceptable limits
Deviance in Sport
Deviance on the field and in sport settings
– Cheating, gambling, point shaving, throwing
games, fighting, performance-enhancing drugs,
etc.
Deviance off the field and outside of sport
settings
– Arrests, criminal activity, academic cheating,
alcohol use and abuse, etc.
– Athlete vs. non-athlete rate of occurrence
Deviance Beyond the Athlete
Coaches
School and Sport Team Administrators
Sport Team Owners
Judges and officials
Team managers and staff
Media promoters and commentators
Agents
Parents
Spectators
Performance-Enhancing
Substances
Expression of overcommitment to the sport ethic
Difficult to define and ban
Legal (aspirin) and illegal (heroin) substances
Natural or synthetic
Harmless or dangerous
Physical changes, psychological changes, or both
International Olympic Committee (IOC) definition
Professional Sport Leagues, NCAA, High Schools
Endless game of “hide and seek”
Performance-Enhancing
Substances
Why do athletes continue to look to
performance-enhancing substances?
Drug Testing
– Cons
Ineffective
Violation of rights and privacy
– Pros
Health of athletes
Integrity of sport
Drug use is illegal and must be controlled
Controlling Deviant
Overconformity
Recommendations
– Examine the nature of elite and high performance
sports
– Rules and regulations
– Educational programs
– Code of ethics
Deviance in Sport
Definitions of deviance in sport
– No one theory can explain deviance
Deviance in sport vs. deviance in society
Overconformity
– Sport ethic
Performance-enhancing substances
– Drug testing
Controlling deviant overconformity
