Sports Fans’ Team Identification and Their Attitudes Toward RivalsBy: Teddy Keyser

Sports in Our Society• One of the most important

aspects of our culture.• A way for individuals from

different backgrounds to connect socially.

• Sports in our society are a reflection of our nation.

• Popular form of entertainment resulting in millions or even billions of dollars made every year.

Social Identity Theory• The phenomenon of being socially connected with

a certain a certain group or microcosm.• Sports fans create a sense of self based on which

group they support.• Results in a sense of belonging, increase of pride and self esteem.• Others who identify with the same microcosm tend to support one another.• Story Time!

Sports Rivalries

• Sports rivalries are the result of Social Identity Theory.

• Fans believe that there team is the “best” in the sport.

• This creates tension between fans of different teams and eventually a rivalry.

Past Research• Wann, Waddill, Polk, and Weaver (2010)• Reported relationship between team identification and

psychological well being.• Increase in social connections.• Team is a part of the fan

• Hirt, Zillmann, Erickson, and Kennedy (1992)• Examined performance after their favorite team won or lost.• Participants completed a motor skills task, mental skills task, a

social skills task, and a chance task. • Positive correlation between mood and performance after win

or loss.• BIRG (basking in reflected glory).• Tend to distance themselves from others not in their

microcosm.

Hypotheses

• H1: Participants highly identified and whose favorite team lost in a championship game against rival team will show more negative attitudes toward rivals.

• H2: Significant main effect of championship game outcome on perceived fairness of the rival fan.

• H3: Significant interaction between gender and their level of team identification.

Method

Participants

• Forty participants (26 male, 14 female, 85% Caucasian)

• Age range from 18 to 49 years (M = 24.75, SD = 8.49)

• Most were friends, family, and coworkers• Others volunteered to complete the study

via SONA and received partial course credit.

Materials

• 2 (outcome of a championship game: win or loss) x 2 (team identification level: high or low) between subjects design.

• Survey:• Basic demographic questions• Sport Spectator Identification Scale (Wann & Branscombe, 1993)• Eight point scale

• Two scenarios: win or loss conditions• Rate the perceptions of their typical rival fan after win or loss

Procedure

• Participants were asked to read and sign an informed consent paper.• Provided minor details about the study and guaranteed confidentiality.

• Half were provided with a survey that contained the winning condition.

• The other half provided with the losing condition.

• Finally given a debriefing statement.

Results

Hypothesis 1

The game outcome X team identification level interaction on perceived goodness of a rival fan was significant, F(1,36) = 5.231, p = .028.

Hypothesis 1 and 2• The game outcome X team identification level on

perceived fairness of a rival fan was significant, F(1,36) = 4.747, p = .036.

• Significant main effect of game outcome on perceived fairness of a rival fan, F(1,36) = 6.011, p = .019.

Hypothesis 3

• No significant differences between genders!• Possible gender bias?

Discussion

Discussion

• Evidence of a true effect of hypothesis 1 on the perceived fairness and goodness variables of rival fans.

• The majority of the dependent variables (e.g., trustworthy, masculine/feminine, knowledgeable, neurotic, etc.) were not significant.•Weak manipulation?• Possible participant confusion?

• Every rivalry is different

Limitations

• Greatest limitation faced was time.•More time could have resulted in:• More participants• Specificity (more selective of

participants and/or variables)• Working alone•Less efficient way of collecting data

Future Research

• 2 (Win or Loss) X 2 (High or Low Identification) X 2(location: Urban or Rural)• Differences between fans within or surrounding the team’s home city?

• Look at the rivalries of different sports and compare the attitudes of fans of different sports• Do hockey fans have more of a negative attitude toward rival fans than football fans?

Thank You for Listening!!!

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