The reason your team won the previous game was solely due to the presence of your lucky hat. To secure a victory in the upcoming game, it is essential that you wear it once more. Could this be attributed to some form of magical intervention? Have the gods conspired to guarantee your team’s progress to the playoffs all because of a particular hat? Without a doubt! This was not just any ordinary hat; it held special significance as your lucky charm. Superstitions are prevalent in sports, and each fan possesses their own distinctive rituals.
Superstitious rituals are characterized as unique, repetitive, inflexible actions that are believed to yield positive results by the individual, even though there is no direct connection between the behavior and the outcome of an event (Womack, 1992). Their effectiveness remains uncertain, but the most significant aspect of sports rituals lies in the believer and the potential psychological benefits they can provide. Rituals have been actively embraced by communities worldwide throughout history. All rituals stem from a belief system, as the majority of superstitions have originated from various religious practices since ancient times.
This phenomenon has extended to various domains including birth, sacrifices, and life transitions. While the exact origin of rituals in sports remains elusive, their existence can be traced back to the times of gladiators. During this era, gladiators would consciously enter the arena leading with their dominant foot, giving rise to the popular saying “put your best foot forward”. Hence, these superstitions have been documented to persist and thrive since ancient times. Notably, B. F. Skinner (1948, 1953) conducted an experiment with birds and found that superstitious behavior can develop through conditioning.
Observing pigeons, it was noted that they established a ritual by feeding them at random intervals. It was observed that each time they were fed, the pigeons would continue their behavior, suggesting that they believed performing a specific action would result in food. The rewarding nature of being fed made it challenging for them to break the habit. Similarly, this could explain the persistence of certain behaviors among sports enthusiasts; engaging in these activities increases their team’s chances of winning and reinforces their beliefs. In recent times, rituals among sports fans have become more prevalent.
The Budweiser Company has recently launched a new campaign titled “the year of the fan”, which focuses on sports superstitions. In the campaign, various fans engage in different superstitions to bring luck, such as rubbing a rabbit’s foot, arranging Bud Light cans in a specific pattern in the refrigerator, wearing mismatched socks to the stadium, and covering their eyes during a potentially winning field goal. The man who points to himself after the successful kick is conveying the message that he contributed to its success. The campaign’s tagline “It’s only weird if it doesn’t work” captures the essence of sports fans and their influence on the game. The campaign effectively appeals to Langer’s theory of illusion of control (Langer, 1975, 1977; Langer & Roth, 1975), which suggests that individuals tend to believe they have control over outcomes, even in situations where they have no control.
Ellen Langer suggests that people often confuse skill-based and chance-based situations, causing them to assess their level of control using indicators known as “skill cues”. These cues, such as competitiveness, familiarity, and individual choice, are usually associated with skill-based games. The realm of athletics provides a prime example of this occurrence. This optimistic mindset can positively impact one’s mental health and foster a strong sense of self-esteem. Sports culture is replete with intricate rituals and superstitions.
From the simple act of turning a doorknob to wearing an unwashed t-shirt for years on end, or even refraining from shaving for a long period, sports can be perceived as akin to a religious practice. Within the realm of sports ceremonies and traditions (or perhaps superstitions?), there exist various beliefs associated with each athletic feat. These rituals surrounding such achievements can be regarded as a wholesome and gratifying form of worship that numerous individuals can engage in and derive pleasure from.
Sports play a significant role in people’s lives, impacting motivation, confidence, emotions, and focus. The perception of sports affects performance and self-confidence, leading to the adoption of rituals for positive reinforcement. However, skeptics doubt the significance of sports rituals and argue that excessive belief in one’s abilities can be harmful in certain situations. In a study by Whyte et al., participants who increased their commitment to a failing course of action were examined.
Ultimately, the negative impact of this situation on a person’s mental state can lead to increased aggression and self-criticism due to unattainable goals. In an ideal world, such situations would not arise; however, certain factors remain beyond our control.
Superstition provides explanations for different events and circumstances, like “the curse of the Bambino,” the “sophomore jinx,” or when a player decides to wear a jersey with the unlucky number 13.
The concept of the ‘Madden curse’ is a phenomenon in the sports industry. It focuses on a football video game where various football stars are showcased on the cover. Strangely enough, the player featured on the cover tends to experience an injury or a decline in their performance during the subsequent season, resulting in lower player statistics. This curious trend has been observed from 1999 until the latest installment of Madden, Madden ’13. For instance, after gracing the cover in 2000, Barry Sanders retired shortly after training camp. Similarly, Drew Brees, who adorned the Madden ’11 cover, threw twice as many interceptions in the season that followed his appearance on the game’s cover.
Despite any negativity, the positive superstitions and rituals dominate everything else. LeBron James, also known as King James by his fans, has an intricate pre-game routine referred to as “the Ritual”. The most visually striking aspect of the Ritual is when James throws moisture-absorbing chalk into the air, bestowing upon himself a pre-game baptism of delicate white powder. This harmless ritual has played a role in aiding this renowned basketball star in earning the moniker of King James.
Wearing a lucky hat and following the unwritten rules of baseball, such as maintaining silence during crucial moments, have positive effects on individuals and strengthen the bond between fans and their team. No-hitters and perfect games are extremely rare in baseball, with only 20 perfect games achieved so far. Thus, when a pitcher is close to accomplishing these extraordinary feats, teammates refrain from speaking to prevent jinxing the chance of a no-hitter or perfect game.
One example illustrating sports rituals and superstitions is the 2012 baseball season of the San Francisco Giants. During this season, pitcher Matt Cain accomplished an impressive no-hitter. Despite being witnessed by everyone, the announcers made a deliberate choice to not mention it. These harmless and enjoyable practices provide a positive outlet for stress and foster inclusivity (Arora).
A study conducted by Robert Booth explores curses, superstitions, and their connection to sports (Booth).The following websites provide information about sports rituals and their psychological benefits:
– Damisch, L. “Silly Sports Rituals? Think Again.” Association for Psychological Science RSS. N.p., 23 July 2012.
– Gill, N. S. “Ancient Olympics – Games, Ritual and A Warfare.” About.com Ancient/Classical History. About, n.d.
– Lessa, William. “Ritual: Life Crisis.” Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d.
– McCarthy, Mike. “Touchdown: Bud Light Captures Fan Superstitions in New TV Spot.” Sports Biz USA RSS. Bud Light, 7 Sept. 2012.
– Morrison, Michael. “Sports Superstitions.” Infoplease.com. Infoplease, 2007.
– Schippers, Michae C., and Paula M. Van Lange.” The Psychological Benefits of Superstitious Rituals in Top Sport: A Study Among Top Sportspersons.” Suspicious Rituals in Top Sports.n.p.,n.d
– Wabash Robert “The 7 Most Bizarre Sports Rituals in the World By Robert Wabash [91 More Lists].” Ranker.N.p.,n.d
-Wiley Ralph “Strange But True Sports Rituals.”ESPN.Page 2,n.d
