Deviance in Sport October 29, 2002

Deviance How do we define deviance in sport? Deviating/straying from norms Norms = ??

Problems in studying sport deviance Range of what is normal? Inside vs. outside of sport Overconformity vs. underconformity

Approaches to Understanding Deviance Absolutist Relativist Coakley’s viewpoint Negative vs. Positive

Problem of the Sport Ethic Sport ethic = cluster of norms that sport has accepted as dominant criteria for what it means to be an athlete How does this influence deviance in sport?

Examples of Positive Deviance in Sport Playing with injury Eating disorders Performance-enhancing drugs