analysis 2: sense of belonging
While finding research about soccer hooliganism and why people participate in it so much, I found some information that I had not even heard of before. According to Spaaij, the hooligan groups provide their members with a sense of belonging, solidarity, and friendship. In his article, he interviewed a person who participates in this behavior and he was quoted saying, “For many of us friendship, belonging, and adventure are just as important as fighting, if not more important (Spaaij, 17).” This is remarkable to me because I would have thought that these groups were made of random fans on match days and then once the game was over, the group would disperse and that would be the end of it. However, the hooligan groups that form are usually close knit friends that can then join up with other people who have the same mindset and goal as them, thus expanding their group size. This expansion allows more friendships and bonds to be made, which strengthens the hooligan groups and allows them to be recognized by other established hooligan groups.
In another article written by Spaaij, he talks about the group aspect of soccer hooliganism rather than the individual side of it. He states that, “…psychologically, the shift from personal identity to social identity is what makes group behaviour possible (Spaaij, 8).” Throughout the rest of the article it is clear how soccer hooliganism is much more than just fan violence, but the formation of mini societies within the ever growing soccer culture. Spaaij goes into detail by saying how rivalries come to help form this sense of belonging. When individuals identify strongly with a team, they learn to do things to others that are in their contention (usually other hooligan groups). After a while, when many of the same like-minded individuals that support the same team get together, they can form acceptable standards of behaviors that can be used against the groups formed from other teams. This is a small part in how soccer hooligan groups are formed, and these two articles show how it is more complex and intriciate than many outsiders would first believe it is.
In another article written by Spaaij, he talks about the group aspect of soccer hooliganism rather than the individual side of it. He states that, “…psychologically, the shift from personal identity to social identity is what makes group behaviour possible (Spaaij, 8).” Throughout the rest of the article it is clear how soccer hooliganism is much more than just fan violence, but the formation of mini societies within the ever growing soccer culture. Spaaij goes into detail by saying how rivalries come to help form this sense of belonging. When individuals identify strongly with a team, they learn to do things to others that are in their contention (usually other hooligan groups). After a while, when many of the same like-minded individuals that support the same team get together, they can form acceptable standards of behaviors that can be used against the groups formed from other teams. This is a small part in how soccer hooligan groups are formed, and these two articles show how it is more complex and intriciate than many outsiders would first believe it is.
Sources
Spaaij, Ramón. "Men Like Us, Boys Like Them: Violence, Masculinity, And Collective Identity In Football Hooliganism." Journal Of Sport & Social Issues 32.4 (2008): 369-392. SocINDEX with Full Text. Web. 7 Sept. 2016.
Spaaij, Ramón, and Alastair Anderson. "Soccer Fan Violence: A Holistic Approach." International Sociology 25.4 (2010): 561-579. SocINDEX with Full Text. Web. 7 Sept. 2016.
Spaaij, Ramón. "Men Like Us, Boys Like Them: Violence, Masculinity, And Collective Identity In Football Hooliganism." Journal Of Sport & Social Issues 32.4 (2008): 369-392. SocINDEX with Full Text. Web. 7 Sept. 2016.
Spaaij, Ramón, and Alastair Anderson. "Soccer Fan Violence: A Holistic Approach." International Sociology 25.4 (2010): 561-579. SocINDEX with Full Text. Web. 7 Sept. 2016.