Deck 4: Social Problems and North American Sport: Violence and Substance Abuse

Question 1

Functionalism views social problems occurring when members of society have not been adequately socialized toward adopting the prescribed norms and values that underlie the social cohesion and stability of that social system.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

Existing studies on catharsis and physical activity indicate that vigorous physical activity does not act as a catharsis.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

For viewers of sporting events, viewing of aggressive sport action has been shown to decrease subsequent aggressive behavior.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

Instinct theories of aggression are supported by evidence that there are cultural differences in the amount of aggression displayed.

Question 5

The instinct and frustration/aggression theories ground aggression/violence in biological explanations.

Question 6

The American Declaration of Independence was a document that literally furnished the rationales for the legitimate use of violence by the colonists.

Question 7

Surveys of sports fans' preferences indicate that spectator enjoyment of games is unrelated to the amount of violence in them.

Question 8

At all levels of sports, incentives exist for athletes to be violent.

Question 9

Society's concept of masculinity is inextricably woven into aggressive, forceful, physical behavior.

Question 10

There is rather compelling evidence that the use of steroids dropped quickly once athletes realized the dangers of using them.

Question 11

The validity and accuracy of drug testing have been established to the point that there is no longer controversy about drug testing.

Question 12

The amount of cocaine, crack, heroin, and speed usage is comparable to the amount of alcohol usage by athletes.

Question 13

Use of performance-enhancing drugs corrupts the essence of fair sporting competition.

Question 14

In a survey of western Canadian cities, sport sociologists found that hazing rarely occurred in the various sports they surveyed.

Question 15

The conflict/cultural perspective views social problems

A) as arising from competition among various groups and interests for power and resources.
B) as occurring when members of society have not been adequately socialized toward adopting the prescribed norms and values that underlie the social cohesion of that social system.
C) as occurring when the mass of population is denied access to many of the political, economic, and social resources available to the powerful and wealthy.
D) Both A and C

Question 16

Konrad Lorenz, a renowned ethnologist and spokesperson for the of aggression/violence, believed that if nations devoted more energy to sports, the chances of wars between countries would be reduced.

A) instinct theory
B) social learning theory
C) frustration/aggression theory
D) modeling theory

Question 17

The of aggression/violence argues that aggression/violence is largely a product of a socialization process of observational learning and reinforcement.

A) instinct theory
B) social learning theory
C) frustration/aggression theory
D) classical conditioning theory

Question 18

According to several sports authorities, the substance that athletes abuse more than
Any other is

A) alcohol.
B) cocaine.
C) marijuana.
D) steroids.

Question 19

Most of the drug-testing programs of the various sports' governing bodies have been implemented without fully resolving

A) the rights of athletes.
B) the provision of an appeals process if an athlete tests positive for drugs.
C) the athlete's responsibility.
D) Both A and C
E) Both A and B

Question 20

The mass media highlight and foster violence in sport by

A) focusing on rough play.
B) sportscasters' praising violent play.
C) replaying spectacular "hits."
D) All of the above
E) A and C only

Question 21

While steroid use is primarily prevalent among male athletes who are trying to bulk up, afflict female athletes.

A) cocaine use
B) eating disorders
C) sleeping disorders
D) overtraining

Question 22

Anabolic steroids have been found to cause

A) testicular shrinkage.
B) reduced testosterone production.
C) bizarre and violent personality changes.
D) All of the above
E) A and C only

Question 23

Your textbook authors suggest factors that might contribute to the alarming trail of violence by athletes against women. They are

A) male bonding rituals.
B) preconditioning to violent behavior.
C) steroid use by athletes.
D) All of the above
E) B and C only

Question 24

The NCAA recently published a manual for its member institution and athletes that includes guidelines for

A) hazing.
B) eating disorders.
C) gambling.
D) violence by spectators.

Question 25

According to studies of college athletes within the past decade, of female athletes reported disordered eating.

A) between 20 and 33 percent
B) less than 20 percent
C) over 90 percent
D) between 60 and 80 percent

Question 26

Describe how the functionalist and conflict/cultural social theories account for social problems.

Question 27

Identify and describe several of the sociocultural forces which encourage athletes to use drugs in connection with playing sports.

Question 28

Three theories of aggression/violence dominate the literature on this subject. Identify those three theories and describe how they have been employed to explain either the social functions of sport or the reasons behind violence in sport.

Question 29

Available evidence indicates that athletes are involved in sexual assaults. What is the evidence for this? What accounts for the rather alarming trail of evidence of athlete violence against women?

Question 30

Athletes' rights and responsibilities are unresolved issues with regard to substance abuse in sports. Describe the features of each of these issues and discuss the efforts to resolve them.