An Ethnography of Pain and Injury in Professional Rugby Union

Howe, P. David

doi:10.1177/101269001036003003

Cited by 95 publications

(79 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…There are also certain cultural groups and subcultures in which the notion of stoicism in the face of pain is valued. These may be termed occupational cultures of stoicism, such as those found among male and female athletes (Howe, 2001;Roderick, 2006;Turner and Wainwright, 2003). In the majority of these studies stoicism is seen simply as not complaining.…”

Section: Culture and Geographies Of Stoicismmentioning

confidence: 99%

Troubling stoicism: Sociocultural influences and applications to health and illness behaviour

et al. 2012

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In light of the ambiguity of meanings attributed to the concept of stoicism we critically explore its use as a label to explain and describe health and illness behaviour, juxtaposing the often negative portrayals of contemporary stoicism against its classical and philosophical origins. By reflecting critically on the term 'stoicism', its application and dimensionality, we show how the term has evolved from classical to contemporary times in relation to changing context, and explore different understandings of the term across medical and health literature. We attend to sociocultural factors that are seen to influence the conceptualization of stoicism such as generational influences, gender and geographies. We make the assertion that by applying the label of 'stoicism' as it is known today, there is a danger of too readily accepting a term that masks particular health behaviours while missing an array of sociological factors that are important to how people deal with adversity arising from chronic health problems. We therefore encourage further questioning of this term.

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Section: Culture and Geographies Of Stoicismmentioning

confidence: 99%

Troubling stoicism: Sociocultural influences and applications to health and illness behaviour

et al. 2012

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“…An emergent field of research focuses on pain and injury as it relates to sports and male athletes (Messner 1996;Nixon 1992;Young et al 1994;White et al 1995;Howe 2001Howe , 2004. Extensive research by Nixon has found that sports promote a "culture of risk" where injury is normalized (1992).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Pain in the Act: The Meanings of Pain Among Professional Wrestlers

Smith

2008

Qual Sociol

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This paper draws upon the relational turn in the study of pain to understand and explain the ways in which professional wrestlers manage and make sense of physical suffering. The paper focuses on how pain-laden interactions in the ring and the gym give form to the ways in which participants of wrestling think and feel about pain. The research is based on a long-term ethnography of professional wrestling. The article does two things: (a) explores the bodily skills that wrestlers cultivate to handle a context of ever-present pain, and (b) explains what the wrestlers' interactions tell us about the meanings of pain that wrestlers come to share. Based on the reconstruction of participants' lived experience of pro wrestling, I suggest that pain becomes attractive to wrestlers because it is given substantive meaning which encompasses denial, authenticity, solidarity, and dominance.

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“…Despite several studies examining the heavy physiological requirements of rugby (e.g., Deutsch, Kearney, & Rehrer, 2002;Deutsch, Maw, Jenkins, & Reaburn, 1998;Reilly, 1997) and factors contributing to the frequency and severity of injuries in it (e.g., Howe, 2001;Lee & Garraway, 2000;Lee, Myers, & Garraway, 1997), little is known about those who play the game professionally in terms of their psychological attributes. Thus, the present research is timely, given that a performer's psychological response to competition is thought to depend largely on the characteristics and requirements of the sport (Krane & Williams, 1987).…”

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confidence: 99%

Investigating the ‘rigid persistence paradox’ in professional rugby union football

Sheard¹,

Golby

2009

International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology

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This study sought to extend the findings of Amiot, Vallerand, and Blanchard (2006), which recently provided evidence of the "rigid persistence paradox" in high-achieving sport performers. The paradox amounts to athletes adjusting more easily to the demands of highly competitive sport if they rate highly in obsessive passion, a type of passion characterized as an internal pressure that compels the individual to engage in the passionate activity. The activity controls the person, resulting in an increased risk of experiencing conflict and increased negative affect. Yet, despite this, Amiot et al.'s findings suggest that obsessively passionate athletes adjust to the most competitive environments. The present study examined the levels of harmony and obsession of passion in the high-impact collision sport of rugby union football. Participants were 78 rugby union footballers representing three playing levels of the professional game in Great Britain (International, Club, and Academy). Results indicated that performers playing at the International and Academy standards scored significantly higher in obsessive passion than Club players, as measured by the Passion Scale. However, obsessive passion was not correlated with negative emotional outcomes, as measured by the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule. These findings provide partial supportive evidence of the existence of the rigid persistence paradox. Results are discussed in terms of the acceptance of the dedication and hours of deliberate practice needed to: a) compete at International level and b) become a professional sportsperson. Implications for sports performers and coaches, and future research suggestions, are discussed.

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An Ethnography of Pain and Injury in Professional Rugby Union

Cited by 95 publications

References 27 publications

Troubling stoicism: Sociocultural influences and applications to health and illness behaviour

Troubling stoicism: Sociocultural influences and applications to health and illness behaviour

Pain in the Act: The Meanings of Pain Among Professional Wrestlers

Investigating the ‘rigid persistence paradox’ in professional rugby union football

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