Club representation in the national team: Effects on identity fusion and intra-vs intergroup attitudes
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Identity fusion describes a psychological state in which personal and social identities are deeply aligned, fostering strong bonds with a group and influencing attitudes and behaviors, including in international contexts. However, how fusion to local (relational) and national (extended) groups interacts remains less understood. We investigated this among Turkish soccer fans (N = 379) using an experimental design to test whether local club representation in the national team influences national team fusion and behavioral intentions toward other fans. Fans viewed lineups for an upcoming international match that included either more of their local club’s players or their rival’s. Participants who saw a lineup dominated by rival players were less fused with the national team. Fusion with the national team was a key predictor of prosocial intentions toward the ingroup (fellow Türkiye fans). Mediation analysis showed that overrepresentation of rival players indirectly reduced ingroup prosociality via national team fusion. Hostility toward the outgroup was significantly associated with fusion to the local team, but not with fusion to the national team, nor with club representation. • Rival player overrepresentation reduced national team fusion. • National team fusion increased ingroup prosocial intentions. • Rival overrepresentation indirectly decreased prosociality via reduced national fusion. • Hostility toward outgroups linked to local team fusion, not national fusion.
Source: Psychology of sport and exercise
Language: English
Topic: Sports, Gender, and Society
Subfield: Gender Studies
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,570
Funder: UK Research and Innovation
OpenAlex ID: W4414573039