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Rich Lam / Getty Images
People run out of a Hudson Bay Co store with merchandise on Wednesday in Vancouver, Canada. Vancouver broke out in riots after their hockey team the Vancouver Canucks lost in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals.
Wednesday night's riots in Vancouver over the Canucks' lost to the Boston Bruins in the last game of the Stanley Cup finals may seem shocking to Americans who view Canadians as our mild-mannered polite cousins. But there's a long tradition of hockey-related civil disturbance in the Great White North, dating at least as far back as 1955, when Maurice “The Rocket” Richard was suspended for 15 games, setting off rioting in Montreal.
Of course, the sports-related riot is practically an American tradition -- just ask Ohio State campus police and the LAPD -- and European soccer is known as much for its off-the-pitch violence as it is for FC Barcelona’s skill on it.
But why? What causes otherwise presumably sane and rational people to go nuts?
“People invest themselves, their identity, very much in the sports clubs,” explained Professor Ervin Staub, a psychologist and the founder of the program in Psychology of Peace and Violence at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. “There is evidence that when a team loses, fans get a little depressed and when the team wins, they get a little high.”
In fact, research over the past 25 years has shown that men especially suffer a drop in testosterone when they, or a sports team they love, lose a contest. This is also true for elections. In a study conducted during election day of 2008, scientists from Duke University and the University of Michigan found that male McCain voters suffered a significant drop in testosterone leading them to feel “significantly more unhappy, submissive, unpleasant, and controlled.”
Such biological effects, Staub explained, are directly linked to behaviors. Losers feel “diminished” and “powerless,” he said, and people then become tempted to “use destructive means rather than constructive means to regain one’s sense of effectiveness.” So they lash out. (Maybe the team lost, but I can bust a department store window!)
Winners, on the other hand, can feel so high and empowered they “feel they have the right to do anything. They feel ‘I am special!’” Staub said.
Combine these psychodynamics with the fulfilling sensation of acting in concert with a large crowd, which enhances one’s sense of power and effectiveness, “and the usual inhibitions about behavior and the social norms that guide us get lost,” Staub said. “You lose yourself to the group.”
You can toss in a little alcohol to suppress the brain’s judgment, but contrary to what most people think, you don’t need booze to get a riot.
Staub, author of the book “Overcoming Evil: Genocide, Violent Conflict and Terrorism,” published this year, said that “those who would allow themselves to lose their individuality in a sports riot by smashing windows likely [hopefully!] have strong values and beliefs” that would prevent them from engaging in mass killing. Still, the same psychological forces that drive the sports riot can evolve into genocide and terrorism committed in the name of nation, clan or religious sect.
Think about that the next time your team loses. Or wins.
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Leave a Comment:
Alcohol and lack of maturity and few brain cells.
Heart of the problem! Take alcohol away from sporting events and it will all stop.
Also fan is a shorten version of fanatic.
A person with an extreme and uncritical enthusiasm or zeal.
The propensity is there they would act fanatic even with out alcohol.
when you only have the athleticism to play one professional sport in your country, virtually "ice skating soccer"...then you get mad when you get beat. all they have is whiskey and hockey, and now all they have is whiskey!!!
lol...what kind of name is canucks anyways?
losers!
Please stop calling these idiots 'fans'. There is a group of vandals in the area who head into downtown Vancouver any time there is a chance of starting a riot. They plan it ahead of time. They are regulars at these kind of events. They tried at the Olympics, but were not too successful in inciting the crowd to join them. Unfortunately, this time they succeeded. Happily, a lot of the idiots who joined in were dumb enough to brag on their FB pages, and will be BUSTED! The true Canuck fans congratulated the Bruins (albeit grudgingly), commiserated with our Canucks and started thinking about next season. They were not in the streets shaming our team and our city.
Jackie - why were all these so called non-fan "vandals" all wearing Canucks jersies? Open your eyes and realize your fan base is a bunch of classless goons - and maybe you can avoid a rerun when your team chokes again next year. Stay classy Vancouver.....Compton and Watts are proud of you!
Jackie - Do you know what "fan" is short for?
Not all of them were wearing Canucks jerseys. In fact, when the riot became serious (i.e. cars were torched, stores were looted) very few were wearing the jerseys. Search for some pictures if you don't believe me.
I'm not saying Canucks fans are all tame--many were outraged when the Bruins won. It's just that most of them, even those who participated in the initial riot, did not stick around when things got too destructive. Those who continued through to the end were mostly vandals and opportunists who figured that they could get some free stuff from stores.
I think Jackie posted very accurately and shows alot of class in her comments. Gettting a team shirt or sweatshirt is maybe $20 and all the "fan jumpers" get on the bandwagon when a team is winning. The young thugs then get drugged up and want the attention just that simple.
True season ticket holders who pay $200 per regular season ticket, per game, are not out lighting tires and vandalizing property. Get real on who you are dealing with and I hope they get full prosecution.
Vancouver is the first on my list to visit someday, it looks so awesome..........
I suspect many of them were the same fans who loudly booed through the entire trophy presentation ceremony. I was embarrassed FOR them. A complete lack of class. You would have thought they got gypped on a bad call or somehow felt they deserved to win, rather that getting beaten soundly and solidly as they did. If I didn't want the Bruins to win before that, the behavior of the Vancouver fans certainly made me glad they didn't win. I thought their team played dirty, they ran their mouths, and the fans followed suite. Go USA!
@Bruce-308647
They were not booing the cup, or Boston, or Boston players, they were booing Gary Bettman, who is reviled by Canadian hockey fans across the country for good reason. He has been, and continues to be the biggest hurdle to the advancement of hockey in Canada.
If you truly knew hockey, and were a true hockey fan, you would know and understand why Canadians hate him. Google his name and read if you want to learn.
sillyson,
Doesn't really matter why they booed so loud and hard, they did it. Just because they hate Bettman they almost ruin it for the Boston fans...way to go. The fans put themselves in a bad light and nearly tainted the presentation. I was rather surprised, you always hear how nice Canadians are and then you see that. I agree with Bruce, their booing made me glad the Bruins won, and I only watched the game because members of my family are fans of the sport. I couldn't have cared less who would have won before that night.
No class, spoiled, drunk, on drugs, stupid, low mentality, just Canadians.
I agree, it has been proven that Canadians are dumb. Although, which specific case were you citing professor?
Shoot the rowdy ba$tard$
I admit right off I do not know what the Vancouver police did last night, but this kind of awful behavior can be prevented by a strong police presence all evening, with numerous groups of 3-4 officers spread throughout the crowd, keeping things friendly and safe. That way everyone can see there are officers nearby and that violence will be rapidly quashed. Staying well off to one side allows it to start and it is much more difficult to then stop.
the cops were unprepared - according to the chief of police. I can only assume that means they are not fans, and don't recall Canucks fans having rioted when loosing back in the 90s
If you read the article, the politicians wanted the department to "meet and great" to be the softer, kinder " department. Instead that should have been dragging the bums out by their nuts straight into lockup.
They were nothing short of animals looking for a rreasonto steal and damage area properties.
The term "Fan" is short for "Fanatic", aka sport a$$hole.
Jerks like in Canada..causing a riot..being a bunch of pussies and not into sportsmanship...just like that singer from that town..who I hate ( baby Biebber whatever his name is).
Bet he be pissing in his pants if at that game!
Hey moron. jerks like we Americans don't cause a riot. Instead, we take it out on our families. Have you ever seen the spousal abuse statistics on Super Bowl Sunday, particularly in the city of the losing team?
WHAT?!? BULL! BULL CRAP!!
Non-American soccer hoodlums are 100Xs more likely to beat, stab, and riot than American 'any sport' hoodlums. That's a fact.
worse or not, Americans tear --it up after football games all the time. Can recall some especially vivid Terps and SU rioting.
Soccer and hockey fans are worst then any sports fans...ALL IDIOTS!
More people KILLED at scoccer games then some WARS in this world!
They lost the double, not just the game but also the post-game.
Booze and total stupidity.
show me a sports fan and ill show you a idiot.
show me a non sports fan and I will show you a person who was picked on in school for being a nerd.....
What makes a sports fan riot?
BEER! (duh)
I agree with you Jackie, this wasn't about sports. I think there are people who have learned the opportune times to get a crowd excited and take advantage of it to loot. I think this riot would have happened whether the Canucks would have won or lost.
BTW, I grew up in Colorado and now live in Maine so I follow the Avs and Bruins (the worst and best of hockey this year. I'm proud of the Bruins for overcoming those early heartbreaking losses to come back and win it all. But the Canucks played really well too. Good luck next year.
I hate hockey..but cheers to Boston..USA USA USA..no hockey in my state..even indoors the ice wll melt fast!
The real cure for this bull is for the Commissionaire of the league is to shut down teams that can not control their fans, never happen I know, but would be a start. I also know that the hurt people do not have to pay for their medical care, but again when the people who caused this are caught, make them pay the bills, plus jail time and I mean lots of it........
Blame Canada!
The rioters and looters are an embarrassment to Vancouver and to our country generally. Reports broadcast here in Canada today indicate that this detestable group of anarchists had pre-planned their abominable acts, possibly (probably?) regardless of the game's outcome. They in no way reflect the mentality of most Canadians. Indeed, Vancouverites returned to the area today to help with the clean-up.
While we would have liked our team to win, the Bruins - with many Canadians on their team :) - played a better game and deserved to win. We congratulate them and look forward to next year.
somehow I'm sure its all Detroits fault.......
I'm not very pleased to read comments that are being negative towards Canadians in general. People are people all over the world. There are trouble-makers anywhere and there are kind and generous people anywhere. It doesn't matter if you're in Canada or America or in any country in the world. "Hi, y'all" to our Canadian neighbors far to the north from a Southern Alabama gal!
I agree, Lisa. I've had the opportunity to travel to Canada several times. Vancouver is my favorite Canadian city, one of the most picturesque in North America and the people there are SUPER friendly and genuine. Such a shame that a few troublemakers shed such a negative light on the Vancouver.
I distictly remember riots in Detroit after the Pistons won the NBA Finals, and the riots that happened in Oakland after they lost to Tampa Bay in the Super Bowl. We are not immune to riots here in the USA, over sporting events. It just seems to happen a bit more often in Europe over soccer games. This is the first time I have heard of one in Canada, but then I don't necessarily pay that much attention to Canadian sports.
A "little depressed" because of a loss? When I am little depressed I do not throw gasoline on cars, turn them over, break store windows, loot the oldest and ritziest department store in the nation, injure almost 200 people and rape an unreported number of women. Nor would I have done so when I was in the angriest phases of my youth.
In this normally peaceful city (as close to an urban paradise as North America gets in my opinion) something went horribly wrong. That deserves intensive investigation, not psychobabble platitudes.
Low IQ's.
Misplaced allegiance to sports uniforms.
Unearned, high self esteem.
A falsely nurtured desire to feel superior to someone else.
Beer.
Lack of morality.
Lack of respect for people and property. YOUR OWN TOWN!
Lack of respect for the law.
Panem et Circenses, eh!
Can*ucks fans are pussies..losers and thank god not USA citizens!
Yeah...I think it has something to do with an American team winning the cup and not a Canadian team...it really pisses them off to lose at their "own" sport.
What makes so called sports fans riot, it is mostly used as a cover for looting, robbing, assaulting people and just being out right disrespect for everyone including themselves.