The Construction and Confirmation of Identity in Sport Subcultures

Abstract

It is usual in interactionist research to view the process of socialization into subcultures as, in part, a process of identity formation. However, we prefer to examine this process, at least in the case of sport subcultures, as a far more deliberate act of identity construction. That is, through a variety of means, the most significant of which is modeling, the neophyte member begins to deliberately adopt mannerisms, attitudes, and styles of dress, speech, and behavior that he or she perceives to be characteristic of established members of the subculture. Such perceptions among neophytes are usually far from being completely accurate and are frequently stereotypical. Thus, it is necessary to examine also the complementary process of identity confirmation in order to conduct a more complete examination of socialization into a subcultural career. These processes, and neophyte mistakes emerging in them, are examined with respect to ethnographies of climbers and rugby players conducted by the authors, together with supporting material from studies of other sports-related aspects of ethnographic research.

From the Sidelines: The Role of the Coach in Affecting Team Unity and Cohesion in Place of Hazing Traditions

“…This is consistent with the roles and identities implicit during hazing events as it is the first-year players or neophytes seeking inclusion who are much less likely to question or withdraw from the ceremony perhaps because they are still trying to find and assume identity and confirmation (Baumeister & Leary, 1995;Donnelly & Young, 1988;Robidoux, 2001 "It did change the relationship. I remember in my first year being intimidated because he is a big guy; I was always scared to speak with him.…”

From identification to dis-identification: case studies of job loss in professional football

“…The construction and negotiation of the identity of athletes is a psycho-social problem that has long been at the core of sport-related academic research (Donnelly and Young, 1988). In spite of its relative success in analysing how athletic identities are variously formed, disrupted and foreclosed (Brown andPotrac 2009: Grove et al, 1997;Sparkes, 1998) -studies in which the concepts of power and subjectivity have been implicitly prominent -4 little attention has been paid to whether or how athletes may cynically 'dis-identify' with social roles at professional levels as a tactical form of transgressive behaviour.…”

The Evolution of Active-Sport-Event Travel Careers

“…Then as individuals begin to move through the expansion and maintenance stages they enter the territory of social world regulars as their participation becomes habitual, committed, and integrated into the ongoing activities of the social world. This progression in social world membership is likely underpinned by the process of socialization into sporting subcultures as described by Donnelly and Young (1988). Socialization into sport is the process through which individuals are enculturated into the unique ethos of a sporting subculture and also fits with one of six characteristics of serious leisure as described by Stebbins (1982).…”

“…DMOs seeking to attract tourists, especially lesser known destinations, should leverage participant sport events and help develop and market these events as a form of sustainable tourism development . Lastly, sport organizations need to structure events in an effort to allow for successful career development and facilitate the participant's membership into the subculture of the sport (Donnelly & Young, 1988;Green & Jones, 2005). In order for individuals to advance through a career, a portfolio of events must be available based on different career stages.…”

“…Similar to the development of ASETCs, Donnelly and Young (1988) in which an individual must be motivated, interested, and have an opportunity (Donnelly, 1980) before actually being selected by an established member or actively seeking out subculture membership. These stages of socialization likely occur while individuals move through the Similar to the findings by Gibson, Attle, and Yiannakis (1998), the final phases of travel career progression was revealed as participants reported a decline in sport related travel as participants aged.…”