Absolutist Approach - Essay Example

Absolutist Approach The situation with a distance runner and her use of illegal weight loss drugs should be evaluated fromdifferent perspectives. Absolutist approach is likely to explain her taking drugs as a deviant act with the help of which she wants to boost her performance and become a better athlete (Coakley, 2009). In spite of the fact that loosing weight is not illegal, it is illegal to use drugs that need prescription to do it. That is why by doing so she breaks the rules as otherwise she would not be able to get a hold of this drug.

On the other hand, a constructionist approach would explain that the desire of the young athlete to boost her performance while ignoring the rules should be seen as a part of the social norms that may or may not be accepted by the society. In other words, it is quite possible that having learned about it, her coach may keep silent about it as one is convinced that a true athlete should not hesitate to perform any action that would lead to enhancement of the results. I believe that the constructionist approach is more accurate.

There are two reasons for that. First of all, it takes into account the peculiarities of the situation and is likely to reflect it in a proper way, not omitting some significant points. Secondly, it does not operate with such abstract notions as absolute moral imperative, so it is accurate in every particular situation that it is applied to.ReferencesCoakley, J. (2009). Sports in society: Issues and controversies. (10th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw Hill.