摘要:Our objective is to analyse, through a literature review, the characteristics and approach sport has received in the social process models, especially for Western communities. As main conclusions, we must say that characteristics of sport depend largely on the historical moment and social context in which it is embedded, because the features of a society invade and enter sport, which in turn becomes reflection of it. Peculiarities of today's society have an influence on the way to deal with sports and recreational phenomenon, being the emergence and diversification of new and combined sports a clear example of it.