Despite the fact that I am a social psych person and a Packer fan, I do
agree with Ed that such explanations are circular and a problem in the
social sciences where underlying "mechanisms" remain un-precise (or, in
postmodern, social constructionist ideology, may be anathema). Theory
development should indeed provide a basis for such identification with
the group, team, community, religion. I think the function of such
needs to belong may have both evolutionary and cultural bases, but these
also provide, in our culture, a means to show distinctiveness,
individuality, and fervor for the cause (from fans painting their faces
to religious and patriotic fanaticism??). I know this is not an answer
to Ed's question. Indeed, evolutionary psych is also notorious for
circular reasoning tho Dave Buss might provide some counter-argument
here. I think Ed touched on a key problem in psychology; namely the
adequacy and explanatory power of its theories. When I cover these
topics in social this term, I will challenge myself and my students to
explore these issues.... by that time the Packer face paint will have
worn off ;-) Gary Peterson
Saginaw Valley State University
>
> You folks have no idea how sorry I am that I started this thread!!!! Aside
> from all the sports talk/banter it's generated, I remain as discombobulated
> as ever. As far as I'm concerned, answers involving things like
> "identification," "reflected glory," etc. are decidedly unsatisfactory
> because they beg the question: Why do people identify with these teams and
> why do they experience any perceived glory won by the team? It's a beef
> I've had with most social psychological explanations for many years now.
>
> Q. Why do people experience joy when the home team wins?
> A. Because they identify with the team,
> Q. How do you know they identify with the team?
> A. Because they experience joy when the home team wins.
> Q. But why do people experience joy when the home team wins?
> A. Because they identify with the team...................
>
> In the words of Homer Simpson, "DOH!"
>
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> Edward I. Pollak, Ph.D.
> Graduate Coordinator, Holocaust and Genocide Studies
> Department of Psychology,
> West Chester Univ. of Pennsylvania
> Office: 610-436-3151; Home: 610-363-1939; Fax: 610-436-2846
> Office hours: Mondays 12-4 p.m.; Tues. & Thurs.: 8 a.m.-noon
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> Husband, father, grandfather, biopsychologist, bluegrass fiddler and
> herpetoculturist ( http://www.adcham.com)
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> Shameless self promotion: The Mill Creek Bluegrass Band performs every
> Tuesday night at Dugal's Inn, Mortonville, 8 miles west of West Chester, PA.
> Call 610- 486-0953 for directions.
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
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