Can backing a losing team be hazardous for your health?

Fall is the time to be cheering for your favorite football or soccer team, since the regular seasons in both sports are already underway. For die-hard fans whose self-identities are tied to affiliations with certain teams, fall can be synonymous with an emotional rollercoaster. A recent study titled, From Fan to Fat? Vicarious Losing Increases Unhealthy Eating, but Self-Affirmation Is an...Read more

We're Your Biggest Fans!

The scenes are common: screaming fans, the broken glass, a mob and the inevitable violence or tragedy; why is it that major sporting events like the Euro2012 championships can provoke such acts of violence ? Fan identification is the commitment, perceived connectedness and emotional involvement a spectator has with a team. Studies say that identification with sports teams is psychologically...Read more