Sport Psychology Practice Test (MEMO)
1. Name and the three types of sport consumers.
There are three types of sport consumers; Primary, Secondary and Tertiary. Primary
consumers are those who spectate sport, secondary consumers are those that watch
it on TV or listen to it on the radio and tertiary consumers read about a sport event
after it has happened.
2. What is the difference between sport fans and spectators?
Spectators observe sport while sport fans are emotionally involved in their chosen
sport. Sport fans are often emotionally involved and they tend to worship whoever
they follow. Sport fans’ favourite pastime is to spectate sport.
3. Give four reasons why people spectate.
• They appreciate the skills of the players
• It creates a form of social interactions (needed by extroverts)
• Many identify with the athlete
• It is a way for many people to express their social identity
4. List 6 things linking one’d identity to an athlete can lead to.
• The BIRG – phenomenon
• The CORF – phenomenon
• One experiences a match defeat as a personal humiliation
• One experiences team setbacks as their own setbacks
• One has greater life satisfaction when their team wins
• One spends more money and socialises more when their teams win.
5. Describe the BIRG and CORF phenomena.
The BIRG and CORF phenomena are linked to spectator behaviour and how
spectators identify with their teams after victories and defeats.
The BIRG-phenomenon stands for ‘Bask in the Reflected Glory’. This comes about
after a team victory. It results in the individual identifying with their home team,
public trumpeting, trash-talking the losing team, wearing team apparel, reading
game reports and watching game highlights.
The CORF phenomenon is the opposite to the BIRG phenomenon. It stands for
‘Cutting off Reflected Failure’. This phenomenon occurs when one’s team loses. It
results in individuals not identifying with their team, ignoring the match, not wearing
team apparel and referring to the team as ‘them’ instead of ‘we’.
6. List 6 spectator trends.
• More spectators attend games of successful teams
• Spectators form alliances with teams regardless of skill level
• The more they dislike the rival, the more satisfying a win and the more heart-
breaking a loss
• They ‘prepare’ for games by talking, worrying and reading about it (they may
even attend practices)
, • They enjoy the tension and excitement leading up to the game
• Queuing for tickets often forms part of the event
7. Explain the Contagion Theory.
The Contagion Theory is one theory of why people misbehave at sport events. It
states that mood spreads from one member of a group to another by means of
suggestion or modelled behaviour. This means that in a group, people take their
behavioural cues from those around them. The main influential factors in this theory
are group anonymity (group apparel helps people blend in), diffusion of
responsibility (sense of invincibility) and increased activation levels.
8. Describe the convergence theory using the example of soccer hooligans.
The convergence theory is one theory as to why people misbehave at sport events. It
states that people with certain dispositions converge on sports events to vent their
antisocial tendencies – they arrive ready to misbehave. Soccer hooligans are often
found to have dropped out of school early, are from large families with unemployed
fathers and lack of proper supervision and mentoring, they are manual labourers,
impulsive, promiscuous and drug and alcohol users. Their status as social miscreants
lead them to attend soccer matches.
9. Describe the Social-Conflict Theory.
This is one theory explaining why people misbehave at sport events. It states that
unruly outbursts are manifestations of underlying conflicts between social groups.
This means that sport is used to air social grievances.
10. Explain the Frustration Theory.
This is a theory explaining why people misbehave at sport matches. It states that
frustration provides a basis for violent behaviour when the relevant cues present
themselves. Influential factors for this theory include long queues, crowded
conditions, thinking that right and privileges are being denied, and whether one is
seated or standing (seated people are more passive and there is less misbehaviour
while standing people find it easier to throw things and because personal space is no
demarcated get frustrated).
11. Explain the Emerging-Norm Theory and the influence of Alcohol on spectator
behaviour.
The Emerging-Norm theory is a theory explaining misbehaviour at sport events. It
states that spectators are bound by new norms of behaviour in a group setting. This
means that people feel pressure to conform to group behaviour. This sometimes
leads people to believe that misbehaving is an act of patriotism.
The abuse of alcohol can also lead to misbehaviour such as aggression, childish
behaviour and exhibitionist behaviour.
12. Describe the relationship between fans and athletes.
The relationship between fans and athletes is a complex one. Sport fans are quite
fickle which is resented by athlete. The fickle nature is due to the fact that fans like
to see ‘underdogs’ win and records broken. Fans also have a tendency to believe that
1. Name and the three types of sport consumers.
There are three types of sport consumers; Primary, Secondary and Tertiary. Primary
consumers are those who spectate sport, secondary consumers are those that watch
it on TV or listen to it on the radio and tertiary consumers read about a sport event
after it has happened.
2. What is the difference between sport fans and spectators?
Spectators observe sport while sport fans are emotionally involved in their chosen
sport. Sport fans are often emotionally involved and they tend to worship whoever
they follow. Sport fans’ favourite pastime is to spectate sport.
3. Give four reasons why people spectate.
• They appreciate the skills of the players
• It creates a form of social interactions (needed by extroverts)
• Many identify with the athlete
• It is a way for many people to express their social identity
4. List 6 things linking one’d identity to an athlete can lead to.
• The BIRG – phenomenon
• The CORF – phenomenon
• One experiences a match defeat as a personal humiliation
• One experiences team setbacks as their own setbacks
• One has greater life satisfaction when their team wins
• One spends more money and socialises more when their teams win.
5. Describe the BIRG and CORF phenomena.
The BIRG and CORF phenomena are linked to spectator behaviour and how
spectators identify with their teams after victories and defeats.
The BIRG-phenomenon stands for ‘Bask in the Reflected Glory’. This comes about
after a team victory. It results in the individual identifying with their home team,
public trumpeting, trash-talking the losing team, wearing team apparel, reading
game reports and watching game highlights.
The CORF phenomenon is the opposite to the BIRG phenomenon. It stands for
‘Cutting off Reflected Failure’. This phenomenon occurs when one’s team loses. It
results in individuals not identifying with their team, ignoring the match, not wearing
team apparel and referring to the team as ‘them’ instead of ‘we’.
6. List 6 spectator trends.
• More spectators attend games of successful teams
• Spectators form alliances with teams regardless of skill level
• The more they dislike the rival, the more satisfying a win and the more heart-
breaking a loss
• They ‘prepare’ for games by talking, worrying and reading about it (they may
even attend practices)
, • They enjoy the tension and excitement leading up to the game
• Queuing for tickets often forms part of the event
7. Explain the Contagion Theory.
The Contagion Theory is one theory of why people misbehave at sport events. It
states that mood spreads from one member of a group to another by means of
suggestion or modelled behaviour. This means that in a group, people take their
behavioural cues from those around them. The main influential factors in this theory
are group anonymity (group apparel helps people blend in), diffusion of
responsibility (sense of invincibility) and increased activation levels.
8. Describe the convergence theory using the example of soccer hooligans.
The convergence theory is one theory as to why people misbehave at sport events. It
states that people with certain dispositions converge on sports events to vent their
antisocial tendencies – they arrive ready to misbehave. Soccer hooligans are often
found to have dropped out of school early, are from large families with unemployed
fathers and lack of proper supervision and mentoring, they are manual labourers,
impulsive, promiscuous and drug and alcohol users. Their status as social miscreants
lead them to attend soccer matches.
9. Describe the Social-Conflict Theory.
This is one theory explaining why people misbehave at sport events. It states that
unruly outbursts are manifestations of underlying conflicts between social groups.
This means that sport is used to air social grievances.
10. Explain the Frustration Theory.
This is a theory explaining why people misbehave at sport matches. It states that
frustration provides a basis for violent behaviour when the relevant cues present
themselves. Influential factors for this theory include long queues, crowded
conditions, thinking that right and privileges are being denied, and whether one is
seated or standing (seated people are more passive and there is less misbehaviour
while standing people find it easier to throw things and because personal space is no
demarcated get frustrated).
11. Explain the Emerging-Norm Theory and the influence of Alcohol on spectator
behaviour.
The Emerging-Norm theory is a theory explaining misbehaviour at sport events. It
states that spectators are bound by new norms of behaviour in a group setting. This
means that people feel pressure to conform to group behaviour. This sometimes
leads people to believe that misbehaving is an act of patriotism.
The abuse of alcohol can also lead to misbehaviour such as aggression, childish
behaviour and exhibitionist behaviour.
12. Describe the relationship between fans and athletes.
The relationship between fans and athletes is a complex one. Sport fans are quite
fickle which is resented by athlete. The fickle nature is due to the fact that fans like
to see ‘underdogs’ win and records broken. Fans also have a tendency to believe that
