Applying the Paradigms Sports

Functions of sports A structural-functional approach directs attention to the ways sports help society to operate

Structural-Functional paradigm society is a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability. Our lives are guided by social structures (relatively stable patterns of social behavior) – How do athletes contribute to this?

Each social structure has social functions (consequences) for the operation of society as a whole. – What consequences are there in the sports world that affect society (adults, fans, children, politics, economy)? Shares a macro-level orientation with the social- conflict paradigm (focus is on broad social structures that shape society as a whole) – Apply this to professional sports

Sports and conflicts A social-conflict analysis points out that sports are closely linked to social inequality

Social – Conflict Paradigm sees society as an arena of inequality that generates conflict and change. It helps you understand society but help to reduce social inequality. – How do athletes contribute to this? Professional and amateur Shares a macro-level orientation with the structural- functional paradigm

Example: the rich in relation to the poor (dominant vs disadvantaged) People on top trying to protect “what is theirs” while the people on the bottom are trying to gain “what the believe is theirs too”. How does this apply to athletes?

Sports as interactions The symbolic-interaction paradigm sees sports less as a system than as an ongoing process.

Symbolic-Interaction Paradigm sees society as the product of the everyday interactions of individuals. – How do athletes interact with the “outside” world? Micro-level orientation – focuses on patterns of social interaction in specific settings – What patterns come up within the professional sport world?

How do you turn failure into success? https://www.competitivedge.com/handling-failure https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=commercial+about+failing+i n+order+to+succeed+athletes&view=detail&mid=EA66719B31E1783 2676AEA66719B31E17832676A&FORM=VIRE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yhLja5esok https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2015/07/what-if- the-us-treated-teaching-like-it-treats-professional-sports/399938/