Edgework, Fun, and Identification in a Recreational Subculture

Street BMX Riders

Bibliographic Data

ID12875399
AuthorsShane Scott (University of Louisville, corresponding author), D Mark Austin (0000-0002-8238-6829, University of Louisville)
Year2016
Volume12
Issue4
Pages84-99
Publication date2016-10-31
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueQualitative Sociology Review (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1733-8077 • E-ISSN: 1733-8077
PublisherUniwersytet Lodzki (University of Lodz) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.18778/1733-8077.12.4.05
OpenAlexW4205605121
LanguageEN
Citations received5
References cited43

The sociological study of risk-taking behavior is a relatively recent development. Lyng (1990) and others have developed the field of edgework, or the “sociology of risk-taking.” In this study, we examine a group of edgeworkers to understand the role of fun and identity in a group of BMX “freestyle” bicycle riders and conclude that these riders reject rational reasons, in the sense of the term envisioned by Weber, for riding in favor of choosing an activity that they report as fun, which leads to feelings such as self-actualization and fulfillment. Additionally, they are not concerned that others, outside of the subculture, recognize their status as participants, further suggesting that rationality played little into the calculation used to define success by this group

Aesthetics · Collective identity · Feeling · Identification (biology · Identity (music · Political science · Rationality · Recreation · Sociology · Subculture (biology · Adventure Sports and Sensation Seeking · Law · Psychology · Social Psychology · Sport and Mega-Event Impacts · Sports, Gender, and Society

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Open DOIOpen Access