Aggressive spectators in sporting milieus: A test of Situational Action Theory

Violence among spectators in sports is a global phenomenon posing hazards for players, match officials, and other participants. Despite its widespread prevalence, scant criminological research has investigated the matter. To fill this void, this study examines the predictive efficacy of key theoreti...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Global crime 2023-07, Vol.24 (3), p.195-214
Main Authors: Kabiri, Saeed, Shadmanfaat, Seyyedeh Masoomeh, Perkins, Robert C., Wellen, Hadley, Howell, C. Jordan, Cochran, John K., Smith, Hayden
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Action theory
Aggressive spectators
Aggressiveness
Alternatives
Crime
criminological theory
Efficacy
fan hooliganism
Football
Propensity
Situational Action Theory
sociology of sport
Spectators
Sports
Sports violence
Violence
Citations: Items that this one cites
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Violence among spectators in sports is a global phenomenon posing hazards for players, match officials, and other participants. Despite its widespread prevalence, scant criminological research has investigated the matter. To fill this void, this study examines the predictive efficacy of key theoretical constructs derived from Situational Action Theory on aggressive behaviour among a sample of 384 soccer spectators in Iran. Results reveal that crime propensity, criminogenic exposure, action alternatives, and choice have direct effects on spectator engagement in violent behaviour. Furthermore, results demonstrate that crime propensity and criminogenic exposure (propensity*exposure) and action alternatives and choice (action alternatives*choice) interact to increase violence among sport spectators in a manner consistent with the theory. Theoretical and policy implications are discussed.
ISSN:1744-0572
1744-0580
DOI:10.1080/17440572.2023.2214795