Loving A Team: Analyzing Why One Becomes a Superfan

Behind every sports team , there is an audience that frantically obsesses over the team’s victory or defeat. Sports fans often associate their identity and the way they perceive themselves with the team they support.

Identifying as a sports fan can be a definitive characteristic and has even led people to report a higher sense of self-esteem and lower rates of depression and loneliness since their main source of confidence and pride stems from their team recognition. A 1994 study of the saliva of 21 males after watching the World Cup between Brazil and Italy found that after Brazil won, their fans’ testosterone levels increased while Italian fans’ testosterone levels remained unchanged.

“I am very attached to the [Miami] Heat because it is a high-level team of the sport I most love to play. Along with me playing the sport myself, it is a nice feeling to watch a team play at a professional level that represents my city,” Miami Palmetto Senior High junior and basketball player Joshua Lipson said.

Additionally, fFans are able to create a sense of pride and community within a team by wearing clothing that identifies themselves with the team’s logo and colors. “I am always showing love and support for the team, whether it is by wearing a player’s jersey to the game or wearing a [Miami] Heat shirt to school. I have a lot of [the team’s merchandise] and love to express my passion for them,” Lipson said.

However, some sports fans make a consistent observation about the differences between their team’s victory or loss. The most typical phrase used when a team wins is “we won,” but when the same team loses, the fan quickly switches to the third person saying, “they lost.” This natural tendency to associate closely with the team in victory is known as “basking in reflected glory.” A fan will easily express their passion, support and pride when their team succeeds, but when they fail, they are quick to blame the team.

“A long-time, loyal fan will stick with the team no matter if the team is winning or losing. However, a fair-weather fan will be there when the team is performing well and when they are not doing well, they are not there. There is also a bandwagon effect involved, like ‘this team is doing well, so I want to be there with everyone else.’ So other fans will just jump on that bandwagon and copy others behavior,” MPSH Psychology honors teacher Aretha Hutchinson said.

Sports provides an escape from the reality and stress of life to tune into a passionate environment filled with hard-working athletes. This positive experience allows fans to relax and enjoy a sense of achievement with reduced stress levels. A team’s performance can also have an impacthave a notable impact on one’s emotional and mental state. Watching a team win in the last second can be a euphoric experience, ; while watching one’s team lose in the last minute of overtime in the final game can ignite a feeling of depression.

“On psychological well-being, there is a point where being competitive is really good. I mean, you need that to win your game. You need that to be on top of your game. But if you become too competitive, to the point where it’s no longer useful, then that’s detrimental,” Hutchinson said.

Attending these sporting events in-person displays the social-psychological phenomenon of disinhibition. Fans shout, yell, stand up, cheer and high-five strangers all around them. Even people who are typically reserved and shy will explode with excitement in bursts of thrill when surrounded by others engaged in the same unrestrained excitement.

“When you are around a group of people, they influence your behavior. When watching a game, you are usually excited and everyone around you is super into the game. So that kind of changes how you would act under normal circumstanc es. The people around you, the excitement and the environment all can alter the behavior of someone,” Hutchinson said.

The obsession with a team can also represent one’s culture and heritage.

“I am Argentinian, so soccer is a huge part of my culture. Soccer is life. From the day you are born, you have a club and that is your club,” MPSH sophomore Ignacio Perales said.

Seeing one’s favorite the team one identifies with take the title in their major final game can also present a sense of nationalism and passion.

“[After Argentina won the World Cup], it was the best day of my life; it was incomparable. The glory of winning a trophy like the World Cup is that it lasts for four years straight,” Perales said.

The excitement produced when watching a game is unrivaled; the adrena line rush is indescribable and the passion is unmatched. Although passionate sports fans may continue to act as a mystery to many, they will continue to support their team no matter what. To a sports fan, a game is not just a “game,” it represents so much more.

Ava Stuzin News Editor a.stuzin.thepanther@gmail.com

DESIGN

BY

MIA SHIELDS PHOTOS BY MADELINE VOLPE