Table of Contents

1. An Introduction to the Study of Sport Fans
Defining and classifying sport fans
Demographic and personality traits of sport fans
The pervasiveness and impact of sport in today's society
Overview of the remainder of the text
PART I: The Desire to Follow Sport, Teams, and Athletes
2. Becoming a Sport Fan
Socialization into the role of sport fan
Sport fan motivation
Some final thoughts
3. Becoming a Sport Spectator
Theoretical approaches to sport spectating
The theory of personal investment
Some final thoughts
4. Sport Fans and Their Heroes
An introduction to hero selection
Sport heroes in contemporary society: Prevalence, selection, and influence
The impact of personality on the admiration of sport heroes
A rogue's gallery
Some final thoughts
PART II:Spectator Agression
5. An Introduction to Spectator Agression
Definitions and Distinctions
The various forms of spectator aggression
Assessing the magnitude of spectator aggression
Perceptions of spectator aggression among the interested parties
Some final thoughts
6. Psychological and SOciological Causes of Spectator Aggression
Psychological approaches to understanding spectator aggression
Sociological approaches to understanding spectator aggression
Alcohol
Some final thoughts
7. Sport Spectator Riots
Definitions of riotous behavior
Typologies of riots
Those who would participate in and escalate a sport riot
Those who would quell a sport riot: The peacemakers
Soccer hooliganism
Some final thoughts
PART III:The Function of Sport Fandom for Individuals and Society
8. The Psychological Consequences of Sport Fandom
Psychologically-based criticisms of sport fans and the pastime
Psychological Well-being and Sport Fandom
Some final thoughts
9. The Societal Consequences of Sport Fandom
The structural-functionalist perspective
Selected critiques of sport fandom
Some final thoughts
References
Author Index
Subject Index

Reviews

"Is this book a worthy addition to your library in sport psychology? Absolutely. It provides a comprehensive sampling of the empirical and theoretical knowledge base dealing with fans and spectators.."
-Contemporary Psychology