Deviant Overconformity and Performance Enhancing Drugs SOCI OLOGY
- Slides: 17
Deviant Overconformity and Performance Enhancing Drugs SOCI OLOGY OF SPO RT FEB RUA RY 24 T H ERIC B OOME RSHINE
Brief Review from Wednesday SOCIAL DEVIANCE DEVIANT OVERCONFORMITY Any behavior that breaks the rules or norms of a group, organization, or community Conformity that is so extensive, intense or extreme that it goes beyond the conventional boundaries of behavior
Examples of Overconformity in Sports Anorexia Steroids Overtraining Disregard for daily tasks
How many of you have…. . Taken a protein powder or drank a protein shake? Used Creatine? Used a preworkout stimulant? Used a diuretic? Used caffeine as a stimulant?
What are PEDs? Substances that are used to improve any form of activity performance in humans Some are banned in sports but legal for general society Quicker recovery Increases hormone production
Examples of PEDs Human Growth Hormone Anabolic Steroids Stimulants Diuretics
Examples of Famous Athletes who use PEDs
Personal Desires to use PEDs Be the best at all costs Gain an edge on the competition Everyone is doing it ◦ Do it or fall behind Desire be bigger, faster, stronger
Societal Desires to use PEDs Want athletes perform absolute best See athletes put their bodies on the line “Win at all costs”
Why are individuals against PEDs? Unfair advantage Costly Negative side effects
Why is society against PEDs? Mythology that hard work accomplishes greatness Fear of contributing to deviancy
Clip from “Bigger, Faster, Stronger”
Major Takeaways from Documentary Contradictory information around steroids Disconnect between scientific community and public knowledge Media hysteria Public misinformation
Double Standards of Steroid Use in Medical Community Medical use ◦ Recovery from illness ◦ Helpful for physical therapy ◦ Legal if prescribed Athletes’ use of steroids ◦ Recovery from practice ◦ Increase performance ◦ Illegal
PEDs in Powerlifting Tested vs Untested Many disregard guidelines Drug cycling to beat testing Push the limits of the human body
In Conclusion… Deviant overconformity is normalized in professional sports Social construction of PEDs Positives Negatives Contrasting views on legality of PEDs
