Suchergebnisse

The processes of competition and cooperation have frequently been discussed as sport specific states which have not been linked to the larger sociocultural context in which they are found. Thus, beyond the behavioural manifestations of competition and cooperation as task states, the meanings and definitions of each will vary to quite a degree by culture. The purpose of this paper is to: 1) briefly review the major orientations to competition and cooperation, 2) present an analysis of the nature and form of each which emerge in a specific culture — the Navaho Indian culture of the southwestern United States; and 3) draw from this data in order to present an alternate theoretical framework which can link the processes to various cultural dimensions. At this point in the analysis several trends are apparent. Current discussions of competition and cooperation present quasistatic, uni-dimensional conceptuali zations of the processes as they exist in the sport setting. Specificailly, many current conceptualizations do not account for the antecedent meanings and perceived consequences of competition and cooperation in a culture. Each of these factors will affect the way in which the processes become expressed in a game context. Secondly, the specific form which competition and cooperation take in a culture seems to be closely tied to the nature of the relationship and respon sibility of the individual to the group. Each of these points will receive further elaboration utilizing specific data from the context of sport in Navaho society.

This paper presents a discussion of the way in which ethnicity has been viewed in the sporting context. It is suggested that the assimilation-acculturation paradigm which is often utilized to discuss ethnic minority participation is insufficient. Speci fically, the paradigm as it is now formulated oversimplifies the dynamics of the ethnic factor in sport. The author attempts to reformulate the nature of the questions asked and presents alternate conceptualizations of the role of ethnicity in sport.

Whereas gender-related literature portrays an image of psychological struggle, role conflict and identity crisis for the female athelete, empirical studies indicate that female athletes perceive and experience a relatively low level of conflict, regardless of their age, level of competitive experience and the sport in which they compete. This study further supports these findings. 44 female powerlifters competing at the 1981 National US championship were administered questionnaires including a role conflict instrument. Factor analysis identified the four factors of emotion, attraction, the sport-performance component and the significant other component and showed the multidimensionality of the construct of role conflict. Further differentiation of this concept is necessary.

The purpose of the paper is to identify the ways in which two distinct cultural groups adopt and incorporate a single sport, namely basketball, and transform it into distinct cultural entities. Specifically, comparative data from the basketball sport systems of the Navaho Indians and the Anglo cultures of the southwestern United States is presented. Relying on the Simmelian distinction between form and content, the authors identify and discuss several elements of the form of bas ketball including materials, shared goals, behavioral tactics, and codes of agree ment. In addition, specific examples of the cultural elaboration of these element is presented. Finally, several hypothetical formulations are presented with a dis cussion of the implications of these findings for the future study of sport systems embedded within specific cultural milieus.

Utilizing both qualitative and quantitative data, this study analyzes the nature of group formation and development during a trekking expedition through the Himalayas. Data indicated that the group went through six stages which were similar to those described in previous literature. Despite the similarity in the nature of stages, the sequencing of stages was different. Specifically, group conflict developed much later than that which is experienced in most groups. Reasons for this discrepancy are explored.