The Influence Of The Protestant Ethic On Sport And Recreation

Why do Americans transform every type of play into competitive contests? Americans have institutionalized sport and recreation as an embodiment of national values. The nexus of these values is the Protestant ethic which emphasizes moral asceticism, rational labour, goal directed behaviour, and competitive achievement. This ethic has engendered the spirit and creed of American sport, labelled the American sport ethos. This ethos which has influenced many different sports with the result that Americans work at their play and imbue their feats with moral import.