Doing My Part:
Understanding Attempts by Sport Fans to Influence the Outcome of Sporting Events Involving a Favorite Team
Keywords:
sport fandom, influence, team identification, fan dysfunctionAbstract
Sport fans believe they have the ability to influence the outcome of sporting events, and research suggests that they can do so. The current study examined seven methods through which fans regularly attempt to influence sporting events: positive verbalizations, positive behaviors, negative verbalizations, negative behaviors, instrumental verbal aggression, superstitious behaviors, and prayer. Participants completed a questionnaire assessing the extent to which they utilized these methods during their favorite sport team’s games, as well as several measures assessing sport fan characteristics (e.g., team identification and fan dysfunction). The results indicated that the most commonly utilized methods of influence were positive verbalizations and positive behaviors, while the least commonly used was negative behaviors. Additionally, all methods of influence were positively correlated, suggesting that they tend to be complimentary rather than contradictory. Finally, a series of regression analyses indicated that team identification and fan dysfunction positively predicted each method of influence. Discussion includes motivations for attempts to influence as well as implications for sport marketing and management.
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