Barking Up the Wrong Tree? A short look on Poor Outcomes of Anti-Violence Programs in Soccer using an Experimental Economics Approach
- This study examines how team identification affects intergroup behavior between different fan groups by means of a unique field experiment with fans of a German Bundesliga team prior to one of its matches. The experiment combines an adaptation of the dictator game with the classical 'minimal-group paradigm'. Contrary to the predictions of social identity theory, subjects do not engage in intergroup discrimination. Instead, participants in the experiment show a pronounced tendency towards a fair split which is interpreted as evidence for a common and shared norm of fairness and solidarity among soccer fans. With respect to fairness, participants appear to perceive themselves as soccer fans in general rather than fans of “their” club. The self-categorization between the superior identity as soccer fan or as a club fan is dependent on previously unknown situation factors.