The discipline sociology entails a number of aspects that form an integral part in the life of persons from various perspectives. In addition, sociology has been adopted over the years to influence various actions of persons from time to time so as to design the actions as desired. The social aspects of individuals majorly deal with various ways in which persons strive to realize the satisfaction of their needs. Managers have integrated a number of social aspects in the operations of the enterprises in order to achieve effectiveness in the performance of employees through ensuring measures those result in individual motivation. (Bartos & Wehr, 2002). Owing to the vital component of sociology, many scholars have initiated theories that attempt to opine sociology as a discipline. Among these theories is Maslow’s hierarchy of needs that integrates the social aspects of individuals. He articulates one of the necessities that are desired by persons is social acceptance. He articulates that persons often strive to feel part and parcel of particular groupings. Through conformity to these groupings, an individual’s performance at workplaces will be more effective. Maslow, therefore, recommends that managers should therefore encourage informal groupings that will result in social acceptance in the organization. (Väyrynen, 1991).
Sociology is highly diversified and encompasses an array of indulgences. Sports play a central part in the subject of sociology and have been used in various cultures for a number of social demands. In addition, sporting activities are also affected by certain social factors that make the study of sociology highly correlated. This paper will therefore focus on sociology with respect to sporting activities. The movie, the Program, will be central in the study in order to identify a number of factors that impact various social perspectives.
The Program is a film that was developed in 1993 basically to manifest a number of social aspects that affect the operations in most of the Colleges. The film majorly is about a fictional football that occurs in a college setup. There are a number of factors that affect the success of the game in the learning institution. Initially, the movies illustrate various cases of drug abuse that have resulted in the negative performance of the game. Due to cases of drug addicts among the major participants in the game, the performance of specific individuals is greatly compromised. A lot of time is wasted undertaking the drug abuse activities at the expense of assuming the football activities. (Smith & Riley, 2011).In addition, the movie opines that major causes of ill health resulting from drug abuse greatly affected the performance of football in the college. Through the use of a number of theories, the paper will extensively articulate the adverse effects of various activities in the success of the sporting activity with reference to the movie, the program. Among the theories that will be considered in the discussion include the conflict theory and the cultural theory. The conflict theory basically identifies that persons often manifest various differences in a number of aspects that greatly influence the levels of their associations. The theory also offers the logical sociological processes that can be assumed in the event of these interactions. Secondly, the cultural theory will also be key in the articulation of the sociological process. The theory focuses majorly on the different cultural background of persons that influences their social adoptions in the society.
The events in the movie not only depict what happens in the life of youthful teenagers in the society that people live in but also reveal the kinds of challenges that they go through and ultimately come out as the sources of various problems. This is because the acts of violence, conflicts, self-esteem as well as temperaments that are observed in the characters and their traits are traceable to the backgrounds and the environments that these students and their instructors come from (Bartos & Wehr, 2002). Apparently, the youth strive to use the talents that they have in playing soccer and participating in school works. The existence of the students who strive to work hard day in day out to better their skills and abilities is also evident in the movie. However, the disparities that exist among the students in terms of performance can be seen and clearly, with little effort, it can be traced to the cultural, social, and historical events of the students and ultimately describes the background from which they are (Smith & Riley, 2011).
An explanation for this is derived from the social conflict theory, which according to the Marxist philosophy is the rampant scenario where people from different backgrounds, environments, and relations tend to develop varied kinds of characters. It strongly implies that where one is born, they do not choose, neither do they determine how others will relate or treat them at the first encounter (Azar, 1990). Moreover, the situation of one’s origin and background in terms of possession, wealth, and ability will affect the way relations and achievements will be achieved by the individuals, in other words, the degree of any form of wealth will depict the social conflict theory that ever exists among the people who have and those lack in a particular situation. The rich will go after the poor in an exploitation manner when they want to achieve. The poor on the other hand, will, at one point in their lives think of cheating or stealing from the rich.
In this context, however, the aspect of wealth is reflected upon in a multifaceted way. This is because; the view of having and not having is based on talent, academic ability, age, and power that people have (Bartos & Wehr, 2002). Ultimately, it is not forgettable that social stratification is mainly based on poverty and money. Students in this have a good show of all these aspects of differentiation as brought forth by culture. Latina, for example, is a male student who seeks to gain what he wants and is not able to take a no for an answer. He, therefore, assaults a woman with whom he claims to be in love. This could be utterly traced from the background of the student and the family or the environment in which he thrived (Azar, 1990).
The culture theory asserts that what human beings do or participate in as forms of activities plays a role in forming the individual cultures of the people. Apparently, what children are born and they find happening in the environment will form a huge chunk of the principles upon which their day-to-day decision-making processes will lie. As such, the movie depicts, through the action of some of the students in the team and their teachers, a variety of cultures that influence the actions that they do; good or bad. An instance of this calls for the attention of the viewer to the scene where Kane gets drunk and engages the team instructor into an argument, which proceeds to myriads of insults and a violent encounter. The events in this case scenario show a lack of self-control on part of the involved and are ultimately attributable to the individual characteristics as well the culture (Varyrynen, 1991).
Sporting activities as witnessed in the video has an importance in the growth and development of the individual. Similarly, organizational goals are effectively achieved through these sporting activities. In line with the movie, the program, various persons have achieved certain levels of developments courtesy of the sporting activities. This is also promoted by individuals ‘contributions to the operation of the institution. The management of the team is effectively achieved through the roles played by the coach in directing the players according to the required standards of operation. Consequently, the management of the college played a central role in setting the standards to be achieved so as to effectively position the institution. Certain actions that do meet ethical standards are not considered socially acceptable. Actions like those of drug addictions are socially considered evil hence warrants punishments. The case of Lattimer indulging in some of these actions was severely punished by being expelled from the institution. Sporting activities are of great essence as they help in bringing more meaning to life. In addition, it performs a cultural role by bringing persons from various backgrounds together for a common purpose. This integration is vital as it enables peaceful co-existence in the societal setup. Psychological tortures are amicably solved through these sporting activities since individuals freely share in process of the sporting activities. Through this, persons feel appreciated in their diverse roles in society.
The movie entails many social aspects that affect the performance of football besides other sporting activities I the college. The movie begins when the football season is underway. It becomes pronounced that the college team had performed poorly in the previous season. This makes the school management put a lot of pressure on the players and other stakeholders to ensure good results in the new season. Owing to this pressure, a lot of undesired aspects are included in the games. Initially, cases of participants resorting to drugs are witnessed. This is believed that would increase their performance in various games specifically college football. Contrary to the expectations, the effects of these indulgences were devastating resulting in general poor performance in sporting activities. A lot of psychological torture is also manifested in this institution. Due to a lot of pressure and expectations, the coach of the team has not sat in a position of performing effectively. This psychological torture is also experienced by the sport’s participants. Light mistakes are treated as gross and warrant severe punishment. Jefferson suffers a lot of mental torture as a result of these pressures that greatly affect his performance. When Jefferson is to grow through his entrance test, he is worried about the outcome. This is mainly due to his social life that has been shaky. He fears that the tests are likely to be undesirable. He has indulged in a number of relationships that were characterized by various challenges. (Bartos & Wehr, 2002). This makes him doubt his health status. The mental torture faced by Jefferson greatly affects his performance in the football team that puts his cross with the coach. Besides, the consequences that are witnessed in the sporting activity, the mental torture portrayed by Jefferson had also affected his academic performance. These challenges make Jefferson play as a backup in the team despite the talents that he had. The illustration of the experience of Jefferson is a perfect example of the extent of consequences that can be realized in an individual life if social aspects of his life are not put into due consideration.
Apart from Jefferson, Lattimer is also a victim of these social challenges that impact adversely in his life on the team and in the school as a whole. Firstly, the movie reports that he assaults a lady after refusing to give in to his pleas. His action was gross and resulted in conflict in the team. He is also a victim of drug usage that makes him be suspended for two seasons. This became a major blow to the team considering the role of Lattimer in the team. This action by Lattimer really damaged the public image of the team hence affecting the morale of the supporters. The effects of drug addiction became more pronounced in the life of Lattimer with poor performance in his academics. (Varyrynen, 1991). Deteriorations in his health were also witnessed by the coach making him be subjected to an array of medications.
Another instance that illustrates cases of gross influence of drug abuse is the situation at the bar where Michigan and Kane got involved in assaults with one of the patron. The situation was a major manifestation of indiscipline cases resulting from the influence of drugs and substance abuse. (Azar, 1990). In reaction to this, the patron acted by engaging in a light battle with the students. His latter resulted in more conflicts over love partners. The conflicts that were manifested did not augur well with the operations of the school and the sporting activities in particular. These undesired behaviors are a major drawback to sporting activities as illustrated in the movie. In order to ensure success in these social activities, there is a need to ensure transparency in most of the activities. The main aim of these activities should be to equip members with various desired skills and to be service and talent objective. Financial gains should not be put at the center of these activities. Contrary to this, cases of poor resource management are manifested in the running of the institution and in more specifically the football team. The coach of the team is presented to be corrupt in his responsibility of managing the team. He uses his position for personal financial gains instead of supporting the team. This resulted in opposition from team members and greatly compromised the running of the team. (Smith & Riley, 2011).
In conclusion, it becomes pronounced from the movie that social perspectives are fundamental in the growth and welfare of individuals in society. Sporting activities are central in the social development of individuals and therefore should integrate into organizational plans. They also help in supporting cultural integration as persons from diverse backgrounds come together for a common goal. (Bartos & Wehr, 2002). However, ethical standards should be highly being put into considerations in order to result ineffectiveness in the social aspects. The movie, the program, therefore effectively assists in illustrating the adverse effects that will be manifested if individuals’ actions are compromised with unethical standards. Some of these effects may be devastating in the individuals’ life and the general operations of the institutions. Effective measures should therefore be adopted that will ensure that these social considerations are enhanced ethically.
References
Azar, E. E. (1990). The management of protracted social conflict: Theory and cases. Aldershot, Hampshire, England: Dartmouth.
Bartos, O. J., & Wehr, P. E. (2002). Using conflict theory. New York: Cambridge University Press.
Smith, P., & Riley, A. (2011). Cultural Theory: An Introduction. Chicester: Wiley.
Väyrynen, R. (1991). New directions in conflict theory: Conflict resolution and conflict transformation. London [u.a.: Sage Publ.