Do the Ingredients to Rivalry Influence Antisocial Outcomes? A Multi-Sport Exploration

The purpose of this study is to expand the work of Cobbs and Tyler (2018) by measuring the prominence of 11 common ingredients to rivalries and fans' reaction to rivals across six professional sports, including the foreign context of Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket. By doing so, we test the robustness of the original findings in MLS.

Using previously validated Likert scales, we surveyed 8,719 fans to access the importance of each ingredient to rivalry and the respondent's reaction to opposing fans in the context of their favorite team's top rival. When comparing leagues, several relevant patterns emerge. The 'frequency of competition' and 'defining moments' are highly important rivalry ingredients in all six leagues. However, there is notable variation in the importance of 'geographic proximity' to rivalries (rated highly in MLS, NHL and MLB, but low in IPL and the NBA), and 'star power' is particularly prominent in both the IPL and NBA.

When we examine how the importance of each rivalry ingredient is associated with fans' reaction to rivals, the results primarily substantiate findings in MLS. Across the North American leagues in our study, we find significant correlations between both 'unfairness' and 'cultural difference' and the four measures of antisocial outcomes (prejudice, discrimination, schadenfreude, and dis-identification) that are the highest of any of the 11 common ingredients to rivalry. While the associations between 'unfairness' and the antisocial outcomes are also clearly reflected in the IPL results, the relationship to 'cultural difference' is less obvious among IPL fans and instead, 'relative dominance' emerges as an ingredient associated with rival fan prejudice. Graphs and statistical tests of these comparisons will be shared in the presentation.

1. Do the Ingredients to Rivalry Influence Antisocial Outcomes? A Multi-Sport Exploration Joe Cobbs, PhD, Northern Kentucky University Shaun Star, JD, Jindal Global Law School B. David Tyler, PhD, University of Massachusetts Amherst

2. What is Rivalry? Why does it matter? Rivalry is conflict with a highly salient outgroup that poses acute threat to in-group identity and/or esteem . (Tyler & Cobbs, 2017) Social Identity Theory (Hogg & Terry, 2000; Mael & Ashforth , 1992; Tajfel & Turner, 1986) Associate with ‘similar’ others to reinforce self-image and position in society Meta-contrast: emphasize differences, ignore similarities to outgroup Schadenfreude ( Dalakas & Melancon , 2012) Pleasure in others’ misfortune Prejudice, Discrimination, Aggression in Relationships (Cobbs et al., 2017; Wann et al., 2003) Moderated by fan identification Positive effects ( Berendt & Uhrich , 2016; Tyler et al., 2017) Self-concept: esteem, cohesion, distinctiveness Match attendance, TV ratings

3. Rivalry applied

4. What are the most important elements? Is importance consistent across leagues? What Elements Lead to Rivalry? Tyler & Cobbs, 2015

5. Method Sample Qualtrics online survey Survey respondents via online message boards Name favorite team & list that team’s rivals in order of intensity Rate importance of 11 rivalry elements using 7-point , Likert- scale Outcome scales Prejudice Relationship discrimination Schadenfreude Dis-identification N = 8,719 valid 90.5% male; 28.7 mean age (10.5 SD) Respondents Per League NBA N = 971 NFL N = 2350 NHL N = 2068 MLB N = 1641 MLS N = 826 IPL N = 863

6. Results Importance of 11 Rivalry Elements by Pro League (7pt. Scale) Frequency, Defining Moments important in every context Geography especially important in MLS, NHL, not IPL Star Power highly important in NBA, IPL, not MLS Competition for Personnel important in IPL

7. Results Importance of 11 Rivalry Elements by Pro League (7pt. Scale)

8. What element(s) spark animosity?

9. Ratings of 11 Rivalry Elements Cobbs & Tyler, 2018

10. Schadenfreude Moderate Weak Little None

11. Disidentification Moderate Weak Little None

12. Prejudice Moderate Weak Little None

13. Discrimination Moderate Weak Little None

14. Selected Fan Quotes “They stole at least 2 championships from us via the ref corruption” “They stole the Championship from us in a rigged WCF in 2002” “Dempsey skipping allocation order, made up league rules ” “ 'Those bastards got Dempsey !” “League caters heavily to facilitate NYRBs success ” “For years, the Atlanta pitchers were given a widened strike zone by the umps” “The Red Sox are seen as a financial power house in the MLB. There's almost a class rivalry that exists here (and some resentment as a result). Comparatively, the Jays just don't have the financial advantages that the Sox do, which makes me dislike Boston even more .”

15. Questions? Conclusions Discernable patterns across sporting contexts Frequency of Competition, Defining Moments are important Disparity in importance of Geography, Star Power Unfairness, Cultural Difference/Similarity are less common sparks to rivalry When Unfairness is recognized, rivalries may be especially hostile

16. Correlations between Elements

17. Conflict Frequency Recurring competition between the opponents “Twice a year every year since 1960” Defining Moment Specific incident, positive or negative, between competitors “Dustin Brown's hit on Rosival in 2011 playoffs.“ Star Power Extraordinary individuals (performers, personalities, legacies) “ Brady vs. Manning ” Recent Parity Comparable success within the last 10 years “They spent the last three years competing for a division title.” Historical Parity Comparable success over a long period (> 10 years) “2 historically great teams” Tyler & Cobbs, 2015

18. Peer Competition for Personnel Competition for labor talent “Both teams often recruit some of the same players in the Midwest Region” Geography Competitors are located close to each other “When you grow up with two schools in close proximity, you get a lot of arguing from peers“ Cultural Similarity Shared values between the team/club/city or region “Similar institutions with similar missions and proud histories ” Tyler & Cobbs, 2015

19. Bias Relative dominance One team aspires to overcome the historical success or dominance of the other team “we usually get our asses kicked ” Cultural Difference Disparate values between the team/club/city or region “Islanders-Rangers rivalry is basically built on the blue-collar hardworkers versus the haughty rich city folk“ Unfairness Perceived preferential treatment toward one team by league or competition authorities “League caters heavily to facilitate NYRBs success. ” Tyler & Cobbs, 2015

20. What Elements Spark Animosity? “I can tell you that my distaste for LA goes well beyond soccer, I find them culturally plastic, materialistic, vapid, and shallow. “ “Extremely proud of French heritage. Toronto loathes our French-ness” “Dempsey skipping allocation order, made up league rules” “ 'Those bastards got Dempsey !” “League caters heavily to facilitate NYRBs success” Cobbs & Tyler, 2018

21. Old Firm

22. Create 3 groups per Element Cell N range 48-192 Cobbs & Tyler, 2018

23. Relationship Discrimination e.g. “I would be less likely to marry a(n) [Rival Team] fan than a fan of the typical team.” Cobbs & Tyler, 2018

24. Schadenfreude e.g. “ I will feel joy if a player from the [Rival Team] gets suspended for a year, even if the suspension was not completely deserved.” Cobbs & Tyler, 2018

25. Prejudice e.g. “ [Rival Team’s] fans are more obnoxious than the fans of a typical team.” Cobbs & Tyler, 2018