1. By: Teddy Keyser

2. • 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

3. • 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!

4. • 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.

5. • 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.

6. • 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.

8. • 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.

9. • 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

10. • 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.

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

13. • 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.

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

16. • 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

17. • 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

18. • 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?

19. Thank You for Listening!!!