Just a game? Sport and psychoanalytic theory

BLACK, Jack and REYNOSO, Joseph S (2024). Just a game? Sport and psychoanalytic theory. Psychoanalysis, Culture and Society.

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Abstract

Sport poses a number of important and no less significant questions, which, on the face of it, may not necessarily seem very important or significant to begin with – a peculiarity that we believe to be integral to sport itself. This article introduces, explores and outlines the psychoanalytic significance of this peculiarity. It explores how the emotions stirred by sport are intertwined with a realm of fiction and fantasy. Despite its lack of practical utility, sport carries an undeniable gravity, encapsulating the aspirations of communities, nations and continents. As a result, psychoanalysis can be used to critically reflect on the purpose and meaning of sport: that is, why do we need sport, and why, for large sections of the world’s population, do we rely on it? Ultimately, while psychoanalysis maintains a unique relation to a variety of unexpected fields of study – including art, culture and neuroscience – we seek to add to this expanding list of inquiry by including sport in this critical domain. By utilising sport as a platform to elucidate psychoanalytic concepts, it is recognised that sport can also prompt questions for psychoanalysis. In so doing, theoretical discussions on the social, cultural and political dimensions of sport through psychoanalytic theory are introduced and applied.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Centre for Sport and Exercise Science; Sport Industry Research Centre; Sociology, Politics and Policy Research Group; Humanities Research Centre; Department of Psychology, Sociology and Politics; Department of Sport; Department of Humanities
Identification Number:	https://doi.org/10.1057/s41282-024-00436-6
SWORD Depositor:	Symplectic Elements
Depositing User:	Symplectic Elements
Date Deposited:	20 Mar 2024 15:02
Last Modified:	27 Mar 2024 15:15
URI:	https://shura.shu.ac.uk/id/eprint/33409

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