The Sport Spectator - A Post Modern Perspective

Author: Thomas (Tom) D'Arcy. B.Ed., B.A. (psych), M.A., Ph.D. The author studied Physical Education at St Mary's College, Strawberry Hill, Twickenham, London. His academic interests permeated psychology, sociology, anthropology and sport science. He lectured in Phys. Ed., Psychology, Sport and Health Science, incorporating Curriculum Development and Research Methodology at I.T. Carlow. He pursued his doctoral and postdoctoral research at Manchester Metropolitan University. Paralleling his academic career he was earnestly involved in sport management and coaching, mainly in rugby, Gaelic Athletic Association games, athletics and swimming.

Part I: Exploring the Nature and Origins of Sport Defining the Structure of Sport Spectator Audiences Chapter One Origins and Evolution of Sport Play and Sport Differentiated Theories on the Origin of Sport Characteristics of Contemporary Sport Norbert Elias: Sport as a Sociological Problem Chapter Two Defining the structure of Sport Spectator Audiences Forms of Audience Constructions (Simple: Mass: Diffused) Audience Stratifications Social Impact of Sport Spectating Sport Spectator: Intrinsic-Extrinsic Motives Spectatorship, Communication and Identity The Sport Spectator and the Consumer Society Changing Nature of Community Part II: Motivation Determinants in the Structuring and Development of the Ardent Sport Spectator Chapter Three Sport and Early Childhood Influences Duality of Memory Recall Childhood Experiences of Play and Sport Analysis of Childhood Reflexivity Deductions and Implications of Analysis Primary School Transition and Identity Conflict, Dominance and Agency Chapter Four Hero Exemplar Construction Sport Hero Construction Hero Construction in Childhood ( Reflections) Sport Hero: Recurring Themes and Implications Hero Choice Determinants Chapter Five Sport as Performance and Spectacle Chronological Structure of Competitiveness Player-Performer Attribution Origin of Sport as a Motivation Indicator Summary of Findings and Implications Chapter Six Mass Media Sport Spectatorship Play, Cognition and Sport Participation Sport Celebrity and Media Construction Mass Media Influence and Sport Engagement Mass Media Sport Consumption Findings Chapter Seven Direct (Live) Sport Spectatorship Emotion Indulgence Gratification Contingent Identity Embellishment Vicarious Attribution and the Aesthetic Direct Sport Spectatorship: Summary and Findings Chapter Eight Spectating Sport - Online Questionnaire (SSM-EI) Sport Spectator Motivation Questionnaire Statements Online Questionnaire Tables and Results Questionnaire 'Clustered' Response Analysis Summary of Response Analysis Online Questionnaire 'Free Comment' Responses Analysis of 'Free Comment' Responses Gender Motivation Differentiation Attendance, Companionship and Age Profiling Chapter Nine The Sport Spectator: Findings and Implications Sport Spectator Interview Topics Media and Direct Sport Spectatorship Online Questionnaire (SSM-EI) Summary Core Observations and Findings Participant Selection Processes Concluding Remarks and Implications Issues for Future Investigation Voyage of Discovery: The Research Question Selected References & Bibliography Subject Index Appendix A: Territorial Sense of Place: D'Arcy's Field