Think Again

WHY RED SOX FANS HATE YANKEES FANS
WHY YANKEES FANS HATE RED SOX FANS
Once we’ve formed those kinds of stereotypes, for both mental and
social reasons it’s hard to undo them. Psychologist George Kelly observed
that our beliefs are like pairs of reality goggles. We use them to make sense
of the world and navigate our surroundings. A threat to our opinions cracks
our goggles, leaving our vision blurred. It’s only natural to put up our guard
in response—and Kelly noticed that we become especially hostile when
trying to defend opinions that we know, deep down, are false. Rather than
trying on a different pair of goggles, we become mental contortionists,

---

twisting and turning until we find an angle of vision that keeps our current
views intact.
Socially, there’s another reason stereotypes are so sticky. We tend to
interact with people who share them, which makes them even more
extreme. This phenomenon is called group polarization, and it’s been
demonstrated in hundreds of experiments. Juries with authoritarian beliefs
recommend harsher punishments after deliberating together. Corporate
boards are more likely to support paying outlandish premiums for
companies after group discussions. Citizens who start out with a clear belief
on affirmative action and gay marriage develop more extreme views on
these issues after talking with a few others who share their stance. Their
preaching and prosecuting move in the direction of their politics.
Polarization is reinforced by conformity: peripheral members fit in and gain
status by following the lead of the most prototypical member of the group,
who often holds the most intense views.
Grow up in a family of Red Sox fans and you’re bound to hear some
unpleasant things about Yankees fans. Start making regular trips to a
ballpark packed with people who share your loathing, and it’s only a matter
of time before your contempt intensifies and calcifies. Once that happens,
you’re motivated to see the best in your team and the worst in your
opponent. Evidence shows that when teams try to downplay a rivalry by
reminding fans that it’s just a game, it backfires. Fans feel their identity is
being devalued and actually become more aggressive. My first idea for
disrupting this pattern came from outer space.