United in defeat: shared suffering and group bonding among football fans

Purpose Evidence shows that the least successful clubs have most committed fans – why? Here, we test “shared-dysphoria-pathway-to-fusion” (SDPF) hypothesis of become irrevocably “fused” to their club and each other, as a result sharing self- club-defining memories past defeats.Design To assess SDPF hypothesis, calculated from UK’s top league, Premier League, over 10-year period. We then invited these complete survey (N = 752), comprising qualitative recollections football events, quantitative measures identity fusion psychological kinship, trolley dilemma measuring willingness sacrifice one’s self save fellow supporters.Findings Our mediation model supported hypothesis. Fans Crystal Palace, Hull, Norwich, Sunderland, West Bromwich Albion were more bonded willing themselves for other than Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool or City. Across clubs, defeats formed an essential part fans’ self-concepts, thus fusing them club. Identity in turn predicted readiness lay down life fans, this relationship was statistically mediated by kinship.Practical implications Understanding shared suffering can lead extreme bonding may help sports policy makers manage crowd behaviour. Clubs will benefit tailoring brand management fan retainment strategies In addition, findings provide insight into motivations oppressed persecuted groups, such others fused through sufferings, helping us better understand processes self-sacrifice.Research contributions This is first study show mediational support relation fandom. The mechanism once embattled foraging groups our ancestral past, now works modern world unite soccer among kinds millions.