The Science of 'We Won!': Why Your Brain Loves a Victory
It’s the final second of the game. The kick is good. The roar of the crowd isn't just a sound; it’s a physical force that hits your chest. You’re hugging strangers, high-fiving everyone in reach, and for a moment, everything is perfect. When your team wins, you win.
As your emotional anchor, Buddy wants you to know this: that feeling isn’t silly. It’s profoundly human. This intense connection is a core part of the psychology of sports fandom and identity. Psychologists call one piece of this phenomenon 'Basking in Reflected Glory' or BIRGing. It's the powerful tendency to associate ourselves with the success of others, and it feels incredible. When the team succeeds, our own self-esteem gets a legitimate boost.
This isn't just an idea; it's a neurological event. A victory floods your brain with dopamine, the same neurotransmitter involved in love and other pleasurable activities. It solidifies your place in the 'tribe'—a community bonded by shared history, shared hope, and shared rituals. This emotional attachment to sports teams is a powerful social glue, connecting you to family, friends, and your city in a way few other things can. The validation that comes from a win strengthens this bond, confirming that your loyalty and passion were justified.
When Fandom Crosses a Line: Are You Too Invested?
But what happens when the euphoria of Sunday’s win gives way to a week of anxiety, or when a loss ruins your entire mood? This is where we need to look at the underlying patterns. Our sense-maker, Cory, encourages us to gently question the dynamic when passion starts to feel like a liability.
The line between healthy enthusiasm and unhealthy enmeshment can be thin. It’s the difference between 'I'm disappointed my team lost' and 'I feel like a loser because my team lost.' When your self-worth becomes directly tethered to a scoreboard you can't control, you're tying identity to a sports team in a way that can be detrimental to your mental health. This is a crucial aspect of the psychology of sports fandom and identity.
This can lead to genuine sports fan depression, where the outcome of a game dictates your emotional state for days. You might find yourself lashing out at loved ones or withdrawing completely, feeling sad after a game in a way that feels disproportionate. This isn't a character flaw; it's a sign that the team's identity has merged too deeply with your own. Understanding how sports affect mental health is the first step toward finding balance.
As Cory would say, let’s reframe this. You have permission to feel devastated by a loss, and you also have permission to protect your peace from it. Acknowledging the depth of the feeling is key to managing it.
Your Fan Identity Action Plan: How to Love the Game, Not Lose Yourself
Recognizing the pattern is the first step. Now, let’s build a strategy to create a healthier relationship with the game. Our social strategist, Pavo, believes in actionable steps to protect your emotional well-being without sacrificing your passion. Here is the move.
Step 1: Diversify Your Identity Portfolio.
Think of your identity like an investment portfolio. If 90% of your self-esteem is invested in one team, you're vulnerable to market crashes (aka a losing season). Consciously invest time and energy into other areas of your life that bring you joy and a sense of accomplishment: a hobby, a professional skill, your relationships, or volunteer work. This cushions the blow of a loss because it’s only one part of who you are.
Step 2: Practice Mindful Observation.
When you feel that familiar surge of anger or despair after a loss—the classic 'why do I get so angry when my team loses' moment—try to observe it instead of becoming it. Acknowledge the feeling without judgment: 'There is anger' instead of 'I am angry.' This small linguistic shift creates distance, reminding you that you are the observer of your emotions, not their prisoner. This is a core strategy in managing the psychology of sports fandom and identity.
Step 3: Create Pre-Planned Post-Game Rituals.
Win or lose, have a plan for the 30 minutes after the game ends. This breaks the cycle of obsessive thought. Your ritual could be going for a walk, calling a friend to talk about something completely unrelated, putting on a specific comedy show, or tackling a small household project. The goal is to consciously shift your brain out of the high-stakes emotional arena of the game and back into the controllable environment of your own life.
FAQ
1. Why do I get so upset when my sports team loses?
Getting upset when your team loses is a common experience rooted in the psychology of sports fandom and identity. Your brain strongly associates your personal identity with the team's success through a process called 'Basking in Reflected Glory.' A loss can feel like a personal failure, triggering a genuine dip in self-esteem and mood.
2. Is it normal to feel depressed after a big game?
Yes, it's quite normal to experience what's known as 'sports fan depression' or feeling sad after a game. The intense emotional investment can lead to a significant crash when things don't go your way. While common, if these feelings persist for days and affect your daily life, it's a sign to create healthier boundaries with your fandom.
3. What is 'Basking in Reflected Glory' (BIRGing)?
BIRGing is a psychological concept where an individual boosts their own self-esteem by associating themselves with a successful other. In sports, it's why we say 'We won' when the team wins. We are vicariously experiencing the victory, which gives us a powerful emotional and psychological lift.
4. How can I still be a passionate fan without it affecting my mood so much?
The key is to diversify your identity. Actively invest time and energy in other hobbies, relationships, and goals. Practice mindfulness to observe your emotions without letting them consume you, and create post-game rituals to help your brain transition out of the high-stakes environment of the game, regardless of the outcome.
References
psychologytoday.com — The Psychology of Sports Fandom