Psychologist Pamela Rutledge says sports fandom can be about belonging to the team and being emotionally bound to a player.
A parasocial relationship is one in which a fan has a one-sided attachment and spends considerable time watching or cheering on an individual player.
The social scientist explains, “The longevity of the career lets people get to know over time and become familiar and, therefore, more connected.”
Rutledge explains that it can also help people connect with their community and social identity by cheering on a team. We are more likely to feel good about ourselves when we identify and engage with “our” team.
Image Credit: Pexels/Vitaly Gariev
Rutledge said, “Group membership helps shape an individual’s self-image. A fan’s identification with a team is related to collective self-esteem, enhanced by media consumption because fans can get current information on the teams and players they support.”
It’s no secret that this membership can wreak havoc on our emotions. As Rutledge explains, fans engage in “BIRG-ing,” or “soaking in the glory of victory.”
Increasing stakes can intensify these behaviors, according to Rutledge. She says it is more rewarding to defeat an essential rival than to defeat a weaker group because more significant threats activate “more negative emotions.”
Simon Rego, the chief psychologist, explains that stress is not unique to sports. While triggers may vary, there’s a cognitive commonality when we perceive a threat to the enjoyment of something we love.
Image Credit: Pexels/Luis Quintero
Rego said, “Stress and anxiety increase while the outcome is uncertain, noting that these consequences are often imagined and non-tangible, though our minds can fool us otherwise.”
Rather than jumping to the worst-case scenario, Rego suggests rethinking the consequences of losses or other setbacks instead of jumping to the worst conclusion.
Rego said, “Changing our perspective and not overemphasizing the relative significance of pennies or points can modify and temper our initial thoughts.” An old commercial reminded football fans that everything ends after the Super Bowl.