Out of Bounds and Crossing the Line:
Defining Toxic Sports Fan Behavior
Keywords:
Sports Fandom, Toxic Fandom, Dysfunctional Fandom, Aggression, ViolenceAbstract
Dysfunctional Fan Behavior refers to the complaining and confrontational behavior that some sport fans engage in (Wakefield & Wann, 2006). Although this conduct has been associated with antisocial behavior, we argue that these behaviors may not be inherently dysfunctional in sporting contexts. This study employed a survey with open-ended questionnaires among undergraduate students (N = 228) to: 1) determine how normal, appropriate, and positive people consider behavior on the Dysfunctional Fan Behavior Scale to be, and 2) explore what types of sport fan behaviors people consider to be toxic. Quantitative results suggested that although the items featured in the DFBS were perceived as relatively negative, they were also viewed as moderately appropriate and normal. Qualitative thematic analysis of open-ended questions describes that there is a threshold for confrontation or complaining behavior that can be considered “toxic.” Also, the analysis shows that toxic sports fandom is associated with themes of identification, violence, online trolling, and disruption. Compared to the traditional operationalization dysfunctional sports fandom, toxic sports fandom appears to be characterized by excessive negativity and antisociality.
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