An Extension to Fan Behavior: The Introduction and Initial Measurement of Basking in Other’s Failure (BOFing), Cutting Off Other’s Failure (COOFing), Basking in Other’s Success (BOSing), and Cutting Off Other’s Success (COOSing)

Publication Date

1-1-2024

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

International Journal of Sport and Society

Volume

15

Issue

2

DOI

10.18848/2152-7857/CGP/v15i02/67-105

First Page

67

Last Page

105

Abstract

Prior research has examined four related fan behaviors, known as basking in reflected glory (BIRGing), cutting off reflected failure (CORFing), basking in spite of reflected failure (BIRFing), and cutting off reflected success (CORSing). Although these behaviors have been successfully used to describe how fans may seek out or avoid stimuli related to their identified team after various performances, these former investigations have not considered how fans may respond to the performances of opposing, or even rival, teams. The current study seeks to extend these existing patterns of fan behavior with the introduction of four novel concepts: (1) basking in other’s failure (BOFing), (2) cutting off other’s failure (COOFing), (3) basking in other’s success (BOSing), and (4) cutting off other’s success (COOSing). In addition, we offer four preliminary scales derived from previous research to measure BOFing, COOFing, BOSing, and COOSing behaviors. We also assessed how team identification could relate to the occurrence of these novel outcomes, finding that team identification contributed to the extent to which participants reported each of these behaviors. Practical implications and future directions for research are discussed.

Keywords

Basking in Other’s Failure, Basking in Other’s Success, Cutting Off Other’s Failure, Cutting Off Other’s Success, Fan Behavior, Team Identification

Department

Psychology

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