An Examination of Dysfunctional Sport Fans: Method of Classification and Relationships with Problem Behaviors

Past examinations of highly identified sports fans have typically focused on the positive aspects of identification with the team in terms of attitudes, participation, attendance at events, merchandise purchases, and other pro-team related behaviors. The current research, however, investigates the dark side of what may be seen as excessive fan identification—characterized by dysfunctional behaviors such as excessive complaining and confronting others at sporting events. This study presents a measure useful in classifying highly identified fans in terms of their dysfunctional nature and delineates associated problem behaviors (viz., event drinking, blasting officials, aberrant media consumption) and differentiating individual characteristics.