December 12, 2024 - Matt Moore & Tarkington Newman (The psychology of sports rivalries)

LEXINGTON, Ky. (December 12, 2024) – Fans, dressed from head to toe in their team’s colors, swarm the stadium chanting fight songs and waving banners.

It’s game day, and the stakes feel monumental. 

Sports rivalries are a cornerstone of athletic culture — sparking packed bleachers, passionate debates and unforgettable moments. 

But what drives the fervor that fans feel for their team and the disdain for their rivals? Experts suggest the answer lies not just in the scoreboard, but in the human psyche. 

According to Matt Moore, Associate Dean of Academic and Student Affairs in the College of Social Work(CoSW) and Tarkington Newman, director of CoSW Sport Social Work Research Lab, rivalries are more than competition; they’re a powerful blend of identity, emotion and instinct.

The CoSW recently announced the launch of The Sport Social Work Collaborative — a partnership between the Alliance of Social Workers in Sports (ASWIS), the Sport Social Work Journal and the college’s Sport Social Work Research Lab. The goal is to advance sport social work as a distinct specialization within the social work profession.

The collaborative is focused on leading research, teaching and outreach efforts that seek to promote the healthy development of athletes, coaches and communities. The CoSW is also home of the International Institute on Sport Social Work.

“The collaborative spans everything from community-based youth development programs, high school sports, to collegiate athletics,” Newman said. “But ultimately, the lab is committed to maximizing sports and promoting healthy experiences and development. It’s a place for exploration — understanding what sports are, what they can be, and giving students the opportunity to engage and lead research experiences.”

On this edition of “Behind the Blue,” Moore and Newman, who are both part of the collaborative, explore the psychology behind sports rivalries — why we love our teams as fiercely as we loathe the opposition, and why this drama keeps us coming back for more.

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