Training at the gym, training for life: Creating better versions of the self through exercise
Author(s) / Creator(s)
Doğan, Ceren
Abstract / Description
The present study draws on Scott’s (2011) notion of the Re-Inventive Institution and explores how gym members make sense and give meaning to their exercise regime. Overall, it is argued that for many participants gym exercise is more than physical training; it is also training for life. Based on a thematic analysis of 32 semi-structured interviews it is argued that gym workout is a means to create better versions of the self on mainly three levels. First, gym participants perceive themselves to be efficient and productive in general. Second, gym training is believed to increase the control they have over their lives. Third, gym members associate their gym workout with amplified emotional resilience, believing that fitness workout makes them not only fitter in a physical sense but also fitter and better equipped in a psychological sense. Surprisingly, a small group of regular gym users displayed more critical sentiments and distanced themselves from the images and values the gym stands for. The results of this study can be linked to broader political discourses on health and fitness that make use of corporate managerial vocabularies and are based on ideals of rationalization and efficiency.
Keyword(s)
fitness gyms Re-Inventive Institutions Total Institutions thematic analysisPersistent Identifier
Date of first publication
2015-08-20
Journal title
Europe's Journal of Psychology
Volume
11
Issue
3
Page numbers
442–458
Publisher
PsychOpen GOLD
Publication status
publishedVersion
Review status
peerReviewed
Is version of
Citation
Doğan, C. (2015). Training at the gym, training for life: Creating better versions of the self through exercise. Europe's Journal of Psychology, 11(3), 442–458. https://doi.org/10.5964/ejop.v11i3.951
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ejop.v11i3.951.pdfAdobe PDF - 402.23KBMD5: f42dcf874a3915a9b00f320372ff6998
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There are no other versions of this object.
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Author(s) / Creator(s)Doğan, Ceren
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PsychArchives acquisition timestamp2018-11-21T09:59:29Z
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Made available on2018-11-21T09:59:29Z
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Date of first publication2015-08-20
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Abstract / DescriptionThe present study draws on Scott’s (2011) notion of the Re-Inventive Institution and explores how gym members make sense and give meaning to their exercise regime. Overall, it is argued that for many participants gym exercise is more than physical training; it is also training for life. Based on a thematic analysis of 32 semi-structured interviews it is argued that gym workout is a means to create better versions of the self on mainly three levels. First, gym participants perceive themselves to be efficient and productive in general. Second, gym training is believed to increase the control they have over their lives. Third, gym members associate their gym workout with amplified emotional resilience, believing that fitness workout makes them not only fitter in a physical sense but also fitter and better equipped in a psychological sense. Surprisingly, a small group of regular gym users displayed more critical sentiments and distanced themselves from the images and values the gym stands for. The results of this study can be linked to broader political discourses on health and fitness that make use of corporate managerial vocabularies and are based on ideals of rationalization and efficiency.en_US
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Publication statuspublishedVersion
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Review statuspeerReviewed
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CitationDoğan, C. (2015). Training at the gym, training for life: Creating better versions of the self through exercise. Europe's Journal of Psychology, 11(3), 442–458. https://doi.org/10.5964/ejop.v11i3.951
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ISSN1841-0413
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Persistent Identifierhttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12034/969
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Persistent Identifierhttps://doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.1161
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Language of contenteng
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PublisherPsychOpen GOLD
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Is version ofhttps://doi.org/10.5964/ejop.v11i3.951
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Keyword(s)fitnessen_US
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Keyword(s)gymsen_US
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Keyword(s)Re-Inventive Institutionsen_US
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Keyword(s)Total Institutionsen_US
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Keyword(s)thematic analysisen_US
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Dewey Decimal Classification number(s)150
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TitleTraining at the gym, training for life: Creating better versions of the self through exerciseen_US
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DRO typearticle
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Issue3
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Journal titleEurope's Journal of Psychology
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Page numbers442–458
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Volume11
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Visible tag(s)Version of Record