We’ve all seen it. Someone’s favorite team just lost at the SuperBowl, so now they are crying on national television. Why is that? What is it about this sport that makes people so emotional?
I have always been slightly curious about what it is about football that can make people of all ages express such a wide array of emotions while watching football, whether they are standing in a stadium or sitting on a couch in their living room.
Well, according to The New York Times, “fervent fans become so tied to their teams that they experience hormonal surges and other physiological changes while watching games, much as the athletes do.” People become so tied up in all of it that they feel every high, and every low, that their favorite team experiences, leading to mood swings throughout each game. In fact, a study done at the University of Georgia found that, “testosterone levels in male fans rise markedly after a victory and drop just as sharply after a defeat. The same pattern has been documented in male animals who fight over a mate.” That is some intense science.
However, the attachment to the sport that many fans experience may not be such a bad thing. According to a study done at Murray State University, “an intense interest in a team can buffer people from depression and foster feelings of self-worth and belonging.” Having that sense of community can help fans elevate their levels of self-esteem, affecting both their physical and mental states in a positive way.
When it all comes down to it, football is all about being part of something special. Having that sense of community and belonging is an amazing feeling, and it is something I am reminded of while I am sitting in the student section of Beaver Stadium surrounded by my friends and fellow Penn Staters. I mean, who doesn’t get hyped doing the “We Are!” chant?
I enjoyed this article immensely, being a Buffalo Bills fan has some rough moments. Hopefully now that I am at Penn State I can root for a team that is not a disappointment a majority of the time. We Are!!
I really think sports can cheer people up, especially with many crazy fans. When you are in the stadium watching sports. You heard fans cheering and dancing, it really make you happier and want to join them. Although it may seem silly but it’s kind of spirit. Everyone just enjoy the moment with their favorite team.
I have never really been into football, mostly because I never got a chance to understand the game, but Penn State football games seem amazing and I am so excited to go to my first one this weekend! Reading this article definitely changed my perspective on the whole game and the true meaning of what it means to be a football fan. Thanks for sharing this post really got me excited for this weekend and to be a part of a crowd that is more than just fans, but a community.
I really enjoyed this article. I am a die hard Dallas Cowboys fan and every loss/win makes me SOOO emotional. They literally affect my mood. I am not proud to admit that I have paced in front of the TV one..or two..or three times, especially this past Sunday. Football is a great way to bring everyone together! Here is a link to a great article I found about NBC’s Sunday Night Football! http://ftw.usatoday.com/2013/11/sunday-night-football-nbc-flex-al-michaels
This topic really hits home for me. My dad is a huge NYG fans and he gets really into the game. I would be upstairs trying to do homework with the doors close and my head phones in and I would still be able to hear him!
I do not personally relate to this but I see it in all the male figures in my life. My boyfriend coaches a high school football team and there is definitely a awkward tension after they lose a game and he is usually bitter for the next day or so. Americans love their football I guess you could say.
I do not personally relate to this but I see it in all the male figures in my life. My boyfriend coaches a high school football team and there is definitely a awkward tension after they lose a game and he is usually bitter for the next day or so. Americans love their football I guess you could say.
I can completely relate with this post, especially during football season at Penn State. I found it interesting that we experience hormonal and psychological changes while watching the games. I also think that football makes people so emotional because the sport itself brings people together for one purpose: to win. When the team wins, fans feel the same excitement as the players.
I can completely relate with this post, especially during football season at Penn State. I found it interesting that we experience hormonal and psychological changes while watching the games. I also think that football makes people so emotional because the sport itself brings people together for one purpose: to win. When the team wins, fans feel the same excitement as the players.
I can completely relate with this post, especially during football season at Penn State. I found it interesting that we experience hormonal and psychological changes while watching the games. I also think that football makes people so emotional because the sport itself brings people together for one purpose: to win. When the team wins, fans feel the same excitement as the players.
I can completely relate with this post, especially during football season at Penn State. I found it interesting that we experience hormonal and psychological changes while watching the games. I also think that football makes people so emotional because the sport itself brings people together for one purpose: to win. When the team wins, fans feel the same excitement as the players.
I can completely relate with this post, especially during football season at Penn State. I found it interesting that we experience hormonal and psychological changes while watching the games. I also think that football makes people so emotional because the sport itself brings people together for one purpose: to win. When the team wins, fans feel the same excitement as the players.
I can completely relate with this post, especially during football season at Penn State. I found it interesting that we experience hormonal and psychological changes while watching the games. I also think that football makes people so emotional because the sport itself brings people together for one purpose: to win. When the team wins, fans feel the same excitement as the players.
I can completely relate with this post, especially during football season at Penn State. I found it interesting that we experience hormonal and psychological changes while watching the games. I also think that football makes people so emotional because the sport itself brings people together for one purpose: to win. When the team wins, fans feel the same excitement as the players.
I can completely relate with this post, especially during football season at Penn State. I found it interesting that we experience hormonal and psychological changes while watching the games. I also think that football makes people so emotional because the sport itself brings people together for one purpose: to win. When the team wins, fans feel the same excitement as the players.
I can completely relate with this post, especially during football season at Penn State. I found it interesting that we experience hormonal and psychological changes while watching the games. I also think that football makes people so emotional because the sport itself brings people together for one purpose: to win. When the team wins, fans feel the same excitement as the players.
When I saw the title of this blog, I was very excited to see what information your found. A few years ago I really started to like watching football, and when watching it with others the emotions are always running high. When our favorite team scores, we all feel an unbelievable amount of joy, but when are team loses it throughs us off and puts us in a bad mood. To add to this, in my Psych class we discussed mirror neurons. These neurons are in all humans, and when we observe others, we feel as if we ourselves were performing the action. This may be related to why we feel so much emotion during a game, we can put ourselves in the football players situations and imagine what they are feeling. One of my favorite football moments was when Penn State recently won the Pinstripe Bowl, here is the clip: /Link
This is a very interesting topic. I definitely agree with the community aspect of being a fan, but I do not get hyped over the “We Are” chant.
This is a very interesting topic. I definitely agree with the community aspect of being a fan, but I do not get hyped over the “We Are” chant.