What is the difference between formal sanctions and informal sanctions for sport deviance?

• A. Formal sanctions are social judgments from peers; informal sanctions are official penalties.
• B. Formal sanctions are official penalties by authorities; informal sanctions are social judgments from peers, fans, or media.
• C. Both are the same, just different terms.
• D. Formal sanctions apply only to coaches.

Answer: (B)

The main idea is who enforces the consequences and how they’re applied. Formal sanctions are official penalties imposed by authorities such as leagues, governing bodies, or teams when rules are violated. They’re built into codified rules and carried out through formal procedures, like suspensions, fines, or bans.

Informal sanctions, on the other hand, are social judgments from peers, fans, or media. They don’t come with official penalties, but they can influence behavior through reputational damage, public criticism, ostracism, or exclusion from certain activities.

So the difference is that formal sanctions are official penalties enforced by authorities, while informal sanctions are social reactions from the sporting community. This distinction captures how deviant behavior is curtailed both through formal governance and through social dynamics.