Folkway and More Norms in Sports

Superstars such as Alex Rodriquez (above) have broken more norms in baseball by taking performing enhancing drugs.

Having a hard time remembering the difference between folkway and more norms? These are two very important concepts in sociology because they will dictate our actions in a given situation. A simple way to look at it is norms are the expected way that people should act at all times and there is many ways we can break these norms. Breaking a folkway norm can range from belching loudly at a formal event or using your sleeve to wipe your nose. The punishment of breaking these folkway norms are not severe, but people will usually recognize them and they may not accept your actions. Breaking a more norm can range from theft or killing another person. The punishment of breaking these norms will be far more severe because we hold these norms more deeply and we may even codify them into our laws.

Now apply this into a different world, the world of sports. One can break more and folkway norms in sports very easily (it can sometime be comical). For example, in baseball, if a player hits a homerun he is expected not to “show up” the opposing pitcher. He can “show up” the opposing pitcher by acting in a cocky fashion after he hits the homerun. These cocky actions can range from posing after the homerun is hit, tossing the bat in an over exaggerated fashion, or rounding the bases at a very slow pace. These actions may spur some jeers from the opposing players and fans but the batter will not get punished for his actions. Now compare this to a baseball player who uses performing enhancing drugs (PEDs) to boost their performance or a player who gambles on games they are participating in. These actions would be considered a breach in more norms because professional baseball deeply cherishes its integrity. If a player decides to break one of these more norms then they will be subject to severe punishments such as a long suspension or a lifetime ban. Many players’ have been suspended because they have tested positive for PEDs (Alex Rodriguez, Nelson Cruz, Manny Ramirez, and others) and some have received a lifetime ban for gambling (the entire 1919 White Sox team for throwing the 1919 World Series). Major League Baseball has even barred Pete Rose and “Shoeless” Joe Jackson from entering the Hall of Fame because of their history of gambling. If you are a baseball fan, you can probably make a huge list of folkway and more norms. Can you think of any other examples of more and folkway norms that other sports preach?