Norbert Elias and contemporary sport: Comment on the civilising process and controlling emotions in extreme sports

Abstract

In this study, we aimed at illustrating the relevance and originality from the assessment of Norbert Elias on the civilising process to interpret current sports activities, e.g. extreme sports. The text highlights the dialogue of his study with two classical authors: (a) Max Weber and the concepts of rational action and of rationalisation of the world and (b) Freud regarding the scale of suffering from the conflict between pleasure and reality principle. To build this reflection, we discussed in the first part of the text the search for rationality in the behaviour of subjects over social action, thinking on them within a comprehensive rationality, e.g. interrelated social webs. In the second part, we focus on the sport in the civilising process, including that rules of conduct and feelings are also considered with the libidinal, affective, emotional impulse control led to an evolution of the social rules in all fields. In the third part, we highlight the role of emotion, discipline, emotional modesty in the field of sports whilst an area where overt expressions of strong, good feelings (which are restricted for the rest of social life) are allowed. In this wise, sports are seen as channels to diffuse emotion, mimesis and catharsis. In the forth, last item, we discuss the features of extreme sports and how the search for emotion in such practices occurs, including its social role as the idea of Elias concerning the existence of a controlled decontrol in sports activities. Finally, the sport comes from developing rationality in all fields since the theoretical perspective, adopted herein. Further, decision–making and actions of subjects are part of an increasing complexity from symbolic webs. The balance of tensions, desires, emotional stimulation of the participants is characterised by the dichotomy between means of control and social disarray.