Why do we always cheer for the underdog?

Rudy, Seabiscuit, Cinderella. What do these things have in common? All of them are great comeback stories.

We all love to cheer on an underdog. They are the proverbial David and Goliath. Have you ever wondered, “Why do we like to root for the underdog?“Social psychologists have studied the losing effect. Allison and. al (2008) defined this effect as the tendency of people to support or encourage an entity that is perceived to be attempting a difficult task and is not expected to succeed against an advantaged opponent. Supporting an underdog crosses cultural boundaries. We can all relate, because at some point we all feel small and powerless.

The feeling of rooting in difficulty is not exclusive to people. We support animals and even inanimate objects. The underdog scheme is activated every time we see a disadvantaged position. When the schema is activated, we tend to feel sympathy and support for the underdog. Another explanation to losing effect it gives us a feeling of uniqueness. When the most logical and popular option is the “big shot“, we tend to go against popular choice to maintain a sense of uniqueness. What’s interesting is that most people also root for the underdog.

own interest

Our preference for helpless it is a mile long but an inch deep. We all want to be winners and try to emulate the qualities of winners. So while we support the underdog, we only support until it affects our self-interest. Imagine two house painting businesses, one business that has just opened and is struggling to stay in business due to the economy. The other company is doing very well and has many employees.

ask yourself: What company would you recommend to a friend? What if you need to paint your house?

The same scenario was used in the study mentioned above. The variables were a bit different. Subjects had to decide which two water testing companies should test community water for cancer-causing chemicals. One company was struggling to stay in business, while the other was in business for 30 years. Most people selected the smaller company when the scenario was testing other communities. On the other hand, when it came to their own community, the subjects preferred the large company.

Although some studies suggest that the losing effect on the surface, we know that the effect is well indoctrinated in our culture. Just look at literature like the Horatio Alger stories from “Rags to Riches.” Or watch popular movies like Rocky, Rudy, Erin Brockovich, Million Dollar Baby, Miracle, Bad News Bears, or Pursuit of Happyness.

We all love those stories. Just thinking about these stories triggers a sense of accomplishment. Some of us even think that we are the protagonists and can overcome the same struggles. How many times do you start listening to the “Rocky” song and get excited? I think there is a universal feeling of fighting and overcoming the difficulty that makes us relate to the underdog.