Analysis of Irrational Behaviors in Sports "Fan Culture" from a Psychological Perspective

Abstract

Irrational behavior in the sports "fan culture" during the 2024 Paris Olympics has drawn attention, such as fans attacking other athletes and leaking personal information. These actions not only undermine the Internet ecosystem, but also cause social conflicts. This article analyzes the phenomenon from a psychological perspective and has significant theoretical and practical implications. The irrational behaviors in the "fan culture" of sports are diverse, including excessive consumption due to blind pursuit, distorted values, offline stalking and blocking affecting athletes' lives, and cyber violence damaging athletes' rights and interests. The causes involve a variety of psychological mechanisms. The halo effect makes fans ignore the negative aspects of athletes. The herd mentality makes fans be affected by group pressure. The projection mentality makes fans place their emotions in athletes. Personality traits such as high neuroticism and low agreeableness can also trigger irrational behavior. To guide the rational development of the sports "fan circle", it is necessary to strengthen departmental supervision, improve systems, enhance organizational education and promote a healthy culture. At the same time, fans should exercise self-restraint and practice rational star-chasing. Only in this way can a green and healthy star-chasing environment be created to support the development of sports.