Do I Dare … Disturb the Fan(atic)?

A Sociopsychological Study on Sports Fanaticism, Identity Formation, and the Making of a Fan

Abstract

The ability to intuitively focus on ideas of sports and the fandom that it entails has not been the strongest subject of research throughout the countries of South Asia, and to understand the psychology that comes with it has been an even more farfetched notion. There is no denying that a gap subsists in the current literature that is accessible on matters such as sports fandom or identity formation apropos sports entities, teams or even franchises. Obviously, it is better to have an understanding of what sports fanaticism is, how it is related to individual identity and, more importantly, how it creates fan identity and also, to what extent the influences of such fandom operate in the context of our country. My paper, therefore, will primarily provide an account of sports fandom and fanaticism which will lead to the discussion of the present condition of sports fanaticism in Bangladesh focusing on the most popular sports of football. The paper will also put forward a theory about how sports fandom can accommodate itself as a perfect venue for identity creation and at the same time depict that, personal and psychological characteristics, contributing to the most basic determining factors of human psychology, have an immense part to play in the making of a sports fan. Finally, the paper will discuss the sociocultural effects and consumerist attitudes of sports fandom in our country. The research is based both on qualitative and quantitative approaches and is discussed in terms of social factors