We are a football house chez Freberg, although our tastes run to college football rather than the “for pay” NFL. But you have to love the Super Bowl! This year, we don’t have a “favorite.” Family members who are avid Steeler fans are pushing us in that direction, but we have this thing for underdogs.
Modern Day Gladiators
One of my psychologist friends describes football as an “heroic” game, and there do appear to be underlying themes of gladiators, combat, victory, and defeat that probably trigger some collective unconscious related to our hunter-gatherer past. Fans watching their teams win experience both a sense of elation and relief, while fans watching their teams lose experience despair, much as observers of ancient combat knew that the outcome of their army’s performance would mean life, death, or slavery to them. Fans supporting the victorious Brazilian team in the 1994 soccer world cup had increased testosterone levels, whereas those supporting the losing Italian side had reduced testosterone levels. Not to worry guys, the effect is temporary.
These effects are even more pronounced when the home team loses, again harkening back to a time where it was a lot safer for the folks at home to lose an “away game” than a “home game” in war.
So may the best team win!
8 Comments
CFrieband · February 1, 2009 at 8:10 pm
The idea that one’s biology changes while watching sports events is really interesting. It just shows how interested people can become in things that don’t really have any direct effect on their lives. Also shows the relationship between biology and psychology and how different outcomes in the game can have very different outcomes on a fan’s body and mood.
KellyThornton · February 1, 2009 at 10:00 pm
I completely agree that testosterone levels vary depending on whether a person sides with the winning or losing team. When you watch football with men, you can see the intensity in their eyes and you can tell that the blood is flowing through their body. Some men get so intense that they actually think they are the ones playing in the game! But many women, including myself, get very into the football games. I am a die-hard Charger fan and do not miss any of the games. My heart races, I get nervous, anxious, and excited.. I feel every emotion run through my body during the games. It makes me wonder what is going on in my body since it is not the testosterone that is flowing. Is there heightened levels of estrogen when women experience the thrill of victory?
Crissy · February 2, 2009 at 11:26 am
Funny thing to mention testosterone, since in PSY 305 we have been talking about the emotions and “side effects” from high or low testosterone. in regards to the Superbowl, I agree that there is a hightened feeling depending on which team you supported and whether they won or lost. Testosterone isnt just a “man” thing, so Ive learned- its a hormone that affects both males and females. it determines not your sex but your gender. Those (whether females or males) with high testosterone experience high levels of irritability, arousal, tension, and aggressiveness (to name a few). Although its ten times higher in males, females have it too- which i could have been noted greatly if you had watched my reactions throughout the whole Superbowl (which I was in favor of the underdog). the feeling of irritability when the Cardinals were loosing wasnt just something i experience alone, but my boyfriend felt and reacted the same way. On the other hand, the reactions his uncle and dad had when Steelers would give up the ball or a bad play was called, well you would think they were a part of the team! All is for certain, last night, the room was full of testosterone, including my own.
Laura Freberg · February 2, 2009 at 2:46 pm
Testosterone appears to work in similar ways in men and women, but as Crissy points out, women have about 10% of the testosterone as men. It would be interesting to see what differences occur in women who “get into” football, and those who absolutely don’t. Testosterone can be checked easily with a saliva sample…senior project anyone?
bbautist · February 3, 2009 at 12:16 pm
It’s amazing to see how the competitive nature of sports cause chemical responses in the human body when one is merely watching an event. I’m definitely a spectator that becomes really engaged with the game and can become rowdy at times, and too know my competitive nature is caused by varying levels of testosterone is really interesting. I’m curious of what other situations may trigger testosterone fluctuations in both men and women?
krusch · February 3, 2009 at 8:37 pm
What a good game this past superbowl was! I really enjoy watching sports an consider myself pretty into them considering most women only watch sports to fit in with the boys. As far as this last Sunday went, everyone who was watching it with me didn’t seem to have a favorite team, but just picked one just because. It is interesting that testosterone levels can fluctuate so quickly depending on who is winning. There was definitely a change in the mood of certain people when their team was winning or loosing and it would be cool if we could do more research on the matter. As for women, is it the lack of testosterone that makes most not really care?
Sageman4u · February 5, 2009 at 11:24 am
It’s interesting that hormone levels are subject to such a variable as outside conditions. I myself can affirm that when my team is winning or losing, it seems like I can become more aggressive and irritable. I’ll never forget how many times my dad would yell at the TV when he would basketball or football. What I’d like to find out is whether or not repeated instances of winning or losing effects testosterone levels over a long period of time.
raquelart22 · February 13, 2009 at 11:55 am
I completely agree with that concept. Because Fall of 2007 USC lost to Stanford at home by one touchdown. I was EXTREMELY hurt because I knew that we wasn’t going to win the championship because of the lost. Perfect season gone by one touchdown. I didn’t go out & I cried (seriously). I am a die heart USC football fan and when we win or lose I feel as though I’m on the team and have to accept the outcome.
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