The excitement of watching sports lies in its competitive, adrenaline-infused nature. Whether you love sports or hate them, it cannot be denied that they traditionally provoke heightened emotions of rage and anger both within the players and the fans. For most, this aggression simply ends with the euphoric or tragic feelings of either victory or defeat. However, this anger can turn into physical violence. Even more, traditionally obvious signs of domestic violence may be overlooked in the midst of the mayhem.
We must be wary of the powerful psychological effect of sports disappointments. In a study done by economists David Card and Gordon Dahl, the relationship between sports losses and domestic violence reports was studied. They found that NFL losses can directly lead to a 10 percent increase in domestic violence reports immediately following a loss from a local team. It also observed that close games had a 50 to 100 percent effect on the rates of domestic violences.
Notably, it was almost only in unexpected losses for home teams that there were significant spikes in domestic violence. Though, of course, no team’s loss would ever cause someone to turn to domestic violence, there is a clearly observable pattern that unexpected losses can trigger an existing abuser to act. And it is this same setting that may make it harder for victim’s loved ones to see the warning signs.
We can’t turn away from the fact that, for many, the climates of watching sports — often involving alcohol, intense emotional highs and lows and feelings of rage and triumph — can set the stage to exacerbate existing problems of domestic violence. Additionally, the setting of sports watching often gives fans a free pass to express otherwise socially unacceptable levels of aggression.
Normally, their expressions of intense aggression, especially expressed toward their partner, would be clear indicators of anger issues or potential for domestic violence. However, these warning signs may be overlooked or downright excused in the aftermath of an emotion-filled loss.
This is a conversation we should be having regularly, and with the UNC-Duke game — one of the biggest sporting events in North Carolina — it is all the more important for fans of both teams to be watchful for signs of violence or abuse in their peers. No amount of team pride or loyalty will excuse channeling rage into one’s personal relationships. And no social gathering of fans should be a place where violent, toxic or disrespectful displays should be suddenly excused or tolerated.
