In sports and entertainment competition, an underdog is an individual or team popularly expected to lose. The team expected to win is described as the favorite or top dog. Individuals are most times taught to be on the winning side of things-sports and entertainment than on the losing side of the game, but in some instances, this may not be the case (Keefer). As it pans out, supporting the underdog or being in the underdog team may elicit memorable moments and actually have advantages. There have been a couple of studies in sports and entertainment seeking to respond to why most people root for underdogs. These studies have shown that nearly two-thirds of individuals root for the underdog (Keefer). There could be several reasons for this massive support for the underdog, but a few key theories exist to explain the issue. Most people root for the underdog for varied reasons. An expert from Baylor College of Medicine explains that being on the underdog side can actually be advantageous (“Why Do We Root for The Underdog?”). This argumentative research paper argues that most people support the underdog team in sports because they sympathize with the underdog; they want the world to be fair and balanced. They easily identify with the underdogs because they relate to their life.
Background Information
A study conducted by McGinnis et al. in 2017 found that nearly two-thirds of people surveyed support underdogs in sports. Their support varied from excitement to being relatable, they can relate to what the underdogs are going through from the perspective of their lives. The defining characteristic of underdogs is the opposition they are faced with (Goldschmied et al.). They struggle against established opponents, which are similar to them but significantly mightier. This position was advanced by Edward Sagarin, the famous American sociologist who asked the question. “Who roots for the underdog?” (Goldschmied et al.)During the last ten years, empirical research has sustained Sagarin’s initial assertions that sympathy and support for underdogs are well documented in the global culture, especially in America. For example, Goldschmied et al. (2) demonstrated that when prompted to predict a future competition in the Olympics hypothetically, American participants preferred nations with a less stellar record of winning medals in games over favorites with great records of winning medals. Once researchers demonstrated underdog support not just in America but across the world, they started finding out motivations for this support. Ideas like the upward mobility bias fronted by Davidai and Gilovich show the significant attention placed on the underdog’s motivation to increase while the intentions of the top dog to suppress this effort are mostly overlooked. The other common explanation for people’s rooting for underdogs revolves around the issue of consideration for fairness. The rationale is that when notable differences in capability and strength between direct competitors are mentioned, spectators intuitively assume that the differences are based on an unfair distribution of resources and the lesser empowerment of the underdogs is not because of their own doing and failures but because of the world being an unfair and unjust place (McGinnis et al.).
Arguments for Underdog Support
Firstly, support for the underdogs is associated with great excitement during a game. Through underdog support, the excitement during game hypes, as suggested by Zourrig, and El Hedhli. Zourrig and El Hedhli say that people like to watch and go to games for the game’s entertainment and excitement. It has been a general rule that if a game is one-sided, if supported, it is overwhelmingly geared to one side, and it is not likely to be as entertaining. By supporting underdogs, the balance of a game’s support is nearly equal, and therefore there is great excitement generated as the game goes by (McGinnis et al.). People like it when the underrated team is achieving success, which is reflected in increased excitement during games. People also enjoy it significantly when a game is close, and the players have fought hard for the ultimate win. And therefore, many people support the underdog team to make a comeback and make the game exciting to the end.
Secondly, people support the underdog because they can easily identify and relate to them. A research conducted by Goldschmied et al. (4) established that people associate themselves with the underdog because they can easily associate with them. Goldschmied et al. explain that people do not often win their life battles, like academics or financial gain, and therefore identify themselves as underdogs. Because of this classification or relatability, they consider themselves as underdogs. Therefore, it makes sense that such individuals would support the underdog team because they consider themselves as underdogs (McGinnis et al.).
The concept of a fair and balanced world is also linked with the support for the underdogs. The explanation offered is that when great disparities in ability and power between direct competitors are highlighted, supporters intuitively assume that such disparities are based on an unfair distribution of strength, capability, and resources. That the underdogs’ lesser strength and endowment are not because of their wanting or shortcomings but because of the unfairness or injustice in the world. This attributional process encourages people to extend their support for the “small guy” to psychologically and morally rectify an unfair and unjust world (McGinnis et al.). The desire for people to make the world fair and is common. For example, the underdog team may have fewer players and fewer resources not because of their own doing, but because of the world’s inequality. The concept of inequality, injustice, and unfairness is all around us; the rich continue having more, while the poor are continuing to languish in poverty.
The concept of schadenfreude is explained by Dr. Asim Shah of
Baylor College of Medicine (“Why Do We Root for The Underdog?”). The concept means that people experience pleasure, unconsciously, at the suffering or misfortune of other people. People end up supporting the underdog team more over the favorites or the winning team because of the unconscious envy that they are performing well. Therefore, if the less favorite team pulls a surprise by winning the game or competition, people generally do not feel bad that the “winning” team lost.
- Counterargument
Nevertheless, there is a common argument that when there is an important at stake for supporting the favorite team, the underdogs’ support is likely to decrease. This phenomenon is common in sports betting and fantasy games, where people have favorite teams. For instance, in the United Kingdom, the support for the English Premier League is often significant for major teams like Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool, and Chelsea. These teams are known as the top dogs because of their great record in the league. They have drawn millions of supporters and fans across the world. Therefore, when they are playing, their fans are likely to support them regardless of the empathy they have for the underdogs. The other phenomenon explained here is that of sports betting. Those who bet in sports often choose the teams with better performance, a great record and a high probability of winning. In most cases, these teams are not underdogs. They are well established and grounded teams which are known for success. People will not bet their hard-earned money on underdog teams with the full knowledge that they may lose their money. This logic beats the support the underdogs (McGinnis et al.).
Conclusion
The most cited reasons for supporting the underdog include sympathy, identifying with the underdog, fairness, excitement for the game and the concept of schadenfreude. People find it easier to identify with the lesser team because of their life predicaments and supports them in defiance to the established patterns of support around favorite or winning teams. Scholars also link support for underdog teams to schadenfreude, which is a feeling of happiness when people suffer, and in most cases those in higher places. However, in some instances, people stick to the established teams especially when something if significant value like bet money is involved. Regardless of where anyone stands on the issue, the common agreement is that support for underdogs is common and well established.