Social Psychology of Sports Fans: Evolutionary Research Paradigm

This current work reviews several theoretical conceptions of the recently developing evolutionary approach in psychology as possible methodological grounds of applied research in social psychology of sport. Thus the paper addresses social coalitions of sports fans to illustrate the main principles of modern evolutionary psychology and to emphasize the role of statuses in such coalitions. It also focuses on the evolutionary and genetic foundations which underlie the fans' desire to form large groups with a complex, hierarchically organized structure. Finally, the paper provides a review of the following research areas in sport psychology within the context of evolutionary paradigm: individual psychological features of sports fans; specifics of group identity in sports fans; social psychological factors underpinning fans' associations.

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