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P A R T 4
Socialization Agents in Sports

Based on this social comparison, if children are confident in their abilities, they are more likely to
participate in sports in the future (Stroot, 2001).
If children continue to participate in sports, their proficiency increases and they begin to identify with a
particular sport. They may be involved in community or school teams, and as their participation becomes
visible, others identify them with the chosen sport. As long as the participant's identity is known, for
example, they may be recognized as a 'volleyball player' or 'hitter'.
Mass Media
Today, while sports help people develop physiologically, psychologically and socially, it is also used as a
means of social integration through mass media. Mass media have a great influence on the creation of a
consumption culture through sports. Mass media influences many people through the messages it gives. In
this respect, it plays an important role in regulating the social life of societies and enriching the cultural
life, while it also plays an important role in spreading sports to almost every part of the society (Ulukan et
al., 2008). TV broadcasts, newspaper reports, and related sports magazines or websites provide individuals
with sports-related information. In addition, by publishing sports organizations, they play an important
role in both the dissemination of sports and the promotion of athletes or new champions to the world. All
of these affect individual sports participation behaviors.

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