The effects of vicarious achievement on BIRGing and CORFing: Testing moderating and mediating effects of team identification

Abstract

The purpose of our study was to test whether team identification moderated the relationship between vicarious achievement and basking in reflected glory (BIRGing) or cutting off reflected failure (CORFing). In addition, we compared the moderated models to models that indicate that team identification mediates the relationship between need for vicarious achievement and BIRGing/CORFing. The support for all of the models is based on the intersection of three theories: identity theory, self-esteem theory, and achievement motivation theory. Individuals (n=151) affiliated with two Mid-Eastern universities completed a questionnaire before and after the 2006 Bowl Championship Series (BCS) National Championship football game. Using Jöreskog's (2000) analysis protocols, we found that there were no interaction effects for the moderated models. Using Zhao et al.’s (2010) strategy, we found indirect-only mediation for both BIRGing and CORFing.