Sport and Societal Values

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Sport and Societal Values

• SEP 271
• Jack C. Watson II

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Topical Outline

• Sport and Social Institutions
• Societal Values
• Importance of Sport
• Learning Activity
• Achieving through sport
• Topical Review and Discussion

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Relationships Jason and Linda (couple) Linda and
Mike (Mike likes Linda) Linda and Jennifer (best
friend) Mike and Eric (friends) Eric and Jason
(friends)
Monongalia River
Linda Jennifer Mike
Jason Eric
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Personal Decisions

• A Long time ago, there was a natural disaster
  and the Monongalia River was formed directly
  between Jason and Linda. Only Mike could use a
  boat and go to the other side of the river. Linda
  asked Mike to take her to the other side where
  Jason lives. However, Mike said I will only
  take you to the other side of the Mon if you
  sleep with me.
• Linda could not decide what she should do, so
  she asked Jennifer, her best friend what she
  should do. Jennifer did not tell her anything
  because she did not want to be involved in
  Linda's problem. Linda really likes Jason, so she
  decided to sleep with Mike. Mike told Eric that
  he slept with Linda, but didn't tell Jason. But,
  Eric told Jason, and Jason became angry with
  Linda and he broke up with her.

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Relationships Jason and Linda (couple) Linda and
Mike (Mike likes Linda) Linda and Jennifer (best
friend) Mike and Eric (friends) Eric and Jason
(friends)
Monongalia River
Linda Jennifer Mike
Jason Eric
Who is the worst person in this story? Why?
Please answer these questions without talking to
anyone.
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Sport and Social Institutions

• Social Values
• What are they?
• How is it developed?
• How/When is it taught?
• Social Values Defined
• Culturally prescribed criteria for making
  decisions
• These criteria are taught
• Values differ based upon region, religion,
  ethnicity, ...
• Social Structure (stratification)
• What is the social structure in the U.S.?
• Social problems
• What are the social problems in the U.S.?

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Social Values and Diversity Issues

• Does the U.S. possess universally held values?
• What might preclude the development of such
  values?
• Salad bowl
• Class split
• conflicting values

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Social Values in the U.S.

• Success (being a successful person)
• Self-made success
• Money
• Competition
• Winning is valued
• Hard Work
• Willingness to work (differentiates classes)
• Continual Striving
• Deferred Gratification

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Social Values in the U.S. (Cont)

• Progress
• Working towards improving self
• Materialism
• Hard work pays off in terms of money
• External Conformity
• Constraint by laws
• Constraint by group expectations

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Why is Sport Important in U.S.?

• Major publicity makes it seem important
• Allows people to be part of a group
• Increased leisure time
• Opportunity for comparison
• Relationship between sport and American Values
  (such as dedication, commitment, hard work,
  winning, competition)

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Individual Learning Exercise

• How were you socialized into sport?
• What makes you so interested in sport?
• Why are kids in other countries not socialized
  into a drive for winning?

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Achievement Through Sport

• Competition is not innate!
• Promotes a focus on money and fame
• Winning becomes more important than the task
• Fosters conformity, not individuality

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Topical Review

• Societal Values, what are they?
• What are the values that you were brought up
  with?
• Who transmitted these values to you?
• How do you transmit these values to others?
• How do these values affect who you are?