One of the things I love about my job is the unbridled passion of our fans. I'm continuously in awe of the many ways people express their love for the San Jose Sharks. When was the last time someone tattooed the logo of a technology company or bank on their body?
Being a supporter of a team gives a person a psychological connection to the team and a sense of belonging. In a very real sense, they feel like a member of the team. It's why fans refer to the team in the first person: 'we won' or 'we lost.' Research by
Daniel Wann
, psychology professor at Murray State University,
shows
that the more someone identifies with a team, the less they feel alienated or lonely and the more self-esteem and positive emotions they have.