Explain briefly the nature of sociology and history as disciplines. Choose one theoretical perspective and suggest how it might further our understanding of sport as a social phenomenon. – Essay plan. Introduction In this essay I shall define and explain the two chosen disciplines, History and Sociology. The theoretical perspective I have chosen to discuss in relation to sport is race and ethnicity. I shall try and illustrate how throughout history different races, mainly black in this case, have been perceived in society and treated within the sporting world.
It will then be brought together in the conclusion, explaining how racial issues or conflicts throughout history have contributed to sport being a social phenomenon. And finally, how black men and women have progressed through the restrictions, which were placed upon them. What is Sociology? Sociology is often described as common sense. It could also be defined as looking at common sense historically – common sense often gets out-dated and then becomes known as a myth. Sociology is often opposed to wide spread prejudices because :
It seeks to explain human behaviour. How we behave, why we behave in certain ways and the consequences it has on society. This is not always popular – there are certain morals and beliefs, which are seen to be opposed in the study of sociology. A definition of sociology could be : ‘the systematic study of human societies principally modern, industrialised ones. It is based on the assumption that human behaviour derives in large part, from memberships of these societies’.
There are arguments of whether our behaviour is scientifically based, such as we inherit genetically our behavioural traits or whether it is learned or ‘nurtured’ from society. What is history? There is not an exact definition of history, it is basically all the events and processes in the past, which have been fine tuned according to who published or wrote the article. Major divides in history = Ultimate History (have agreed facts) vs. Relative History (never agreed facts).