Dark personality traits and soccer fanaticism: the mediating role of attachment styles

Soccer fanaticism is a widespread form of violence, and its history goes back decades.In this study, the multiple mediator roles of attachment styles (ASs) in the relationship between dark personality traits (DPTs: Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy) and soccer fans' fanaticism (FFF) levels were examined. Three hundred twenty-nine soccer fans of 10 Turkish teams competing in various leagues,constituting 205 maleand 124 femalefans, participated in the study. The data were analysed with the Hayes model 4 using the DDS, the FSFF, and RSQ.Parallel mediation analysis showed that only the psychopathy sub-dimension of DPT positively affected FFF significantly. Similarly, the preoccupied attachment (PA) style positively predicted FFF scores. A 1-unit increase in PA scores increased a 0.21-unit decrease in the FFF scores. Besides, the PA mediated the relationship between DPT and FF negatively.These results were interpreted as inadequate interventions for gaining positive self-esteem and internalizing social rules during childhood and adolescence at the root of fanaticism.