After Reading The Material Text And Supplemental On Deviant
After Reading The Material Text And Supplemental On Deviant Over Con
After reading the material (TEXT AND SUPPLEMENTAL) on deviant over-conformity, use your own experience (as an athlete or spectator or friend of an athlete) to identify a form of deviant over-conformity in sports. Explain the origins of the deviance and a course of action a coach might take to control this form of deviance among his/her athletes. Write an initial post of at least 25 sentences by Wednesday and respond to at least two others with 5 sentences by Sunday.
Paper For Above instruction
Deviant over-conformity in sports refers to an excessive and sometimes harmful adherence to the norms and expectations within a sporting context. This phenomenon is often rooted in the deep-seated desire for success, belonging, and recognition, which can drive athletes to push beyond reasonable limits, sometimes engaging in risky or unethical behaviors. An illustrative example from my personal experience as a spectator involves a young basketball player who developed a pattern of taking performance-enhancing drugs to improve athletic performance. The origins of this deviance can be traced back to the athlete’s intense pressure to excel, fueled by societal and coach-driven expectations to win at all costs (Cox, 2009). The athlete believed that overcoming physical limitations was essential to meet the high standards imposed by their team, community, and personal ambitions.
This over-conformity is often reinforced by the sport ethic, which emphasizes success and winning above all else (Cunningham, 2008). When athletes internalize these norms excessively, they may prioritize results over health or fairness, leading to deviant behaviors such as doping or other forms of cheating. The desire to conform intensely to norms related to toughness, perseverance, and success can make it difficult for athletes to recognize boundaries or accept failure naturally. In this case, the athlete's origin of deviance was significantly influenced by the desire to impress coaches, peers, and spectators, which fostered a suppressing of personal health concerns in exchange for short-term success.
A coach addressing this form of deviant over-conformity needs to take proactive and educational measures. First, fostering a team culture that values integrity, health, and fair play over just winning is crucial (Gill et al., 2018). Coaches should regularly educate athletes about the risks associated with doping and other unsafe practices, emphasizing long-term well-being over immediate gains. Implementing strict anti-doping policies and providing psychological support can also diminish pressures that lead athletes to engage in deviant acts. Furthermore, promoting intrinsic motivation—such as personal growth, mastery, and enjoyment—can help athletes detach from external validation and over-conformance to norms driven solely by victory (Deci & Ryan, 2000). Encouraging athletes to set realistic goals and accept setbacks as part of the growth process can reduce the fear of failure that often spurs deviant over-conformity.
Creating an environment where athletes feel comfortable discussing their pressures and concerns is another pivotal strategy (Hoberman, 2019). When athletes perceive that their health and ethical considerations are valued equally with performance outcomes, they are less likely to engage in deviant behaviors to meet external expectations. Coaches must serve as role models by demonstrating adherence to ethical standards and maintaining transparency about their own struggles with success and failure. This kind of leadership fosters trust and encourages athletes to value integrity over mere results.
In conclusion, deviant over-conformity in sports arises from a complex interplay of personal ambitions, societal expectations, and coach-driven norms. It can manifest in dangerous behaviors such as doping, excessive training, or other rule-breaking practices. Addressing this issue requires a multifaceted approach that emphasizes education, ethical culture, psychological support, and intrinsic motivation development. Coaches play a vital role in shaping the normative environment and can mitigate deviant over-conformity by fostering values of health, integrity, and personal fulfillment over purely competitive success. Ultimately, creating a balanced approach to sports participation promotes not only athletic excellence but also the holistic well-being of athletes.
References
Cox, R. H. (2009). Sport psychology: Concepts and applications (7th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education.
Cunningham, G. B. (2008). Sport ethics and deviant overconformity: A guiding framework. Journal of Sport and Social Issues, 32(2), 142–163.
Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2000). The “what” and “why” of goal pursuits: Human needs and the self-determination of behavior. Psychological Inquiry, 11(4), 227–268.
Gill, D. L., Williams, K., & Stewart, N. (2018). Psychological considerations for anti-doping education. Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 40(3), 135–147.
Hoberman, J. M. (2019). The culture of doping in sports: Ethical implications and prevention. Ethics & Sport, 17(1), 45–63.
Sullivan, P. J. (2011). Over-conformance as a form of deviant behavior in sport. International Journal of Sport Psychology, 42(4), 346–363.
Smith, A. C., & McGannon, K. R. (2020). Building resilient athletes: Approaches to reduce deviant overconformity. Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology, 9(2), 183–198.
Waddington, I. (2019). Doping in sport: The development of a professional ethical culture. Routledge.
Williams, J. M., & Krane, V. (2019). Ethical challenges and misconduct in sports: Strategies for coaches. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 33(4), 460–474.