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Emotional Cues and Violent Behavior: Unexpected Basketball Losses Increase Incidents of Family Violence

Author

Listed:
  • Alexander Cardazzi
  • Bryan C McCannon
  • Brad R Humphreys
  • Zachary Rodriguez

Abstract

Domestic violence generates long-term effects on offenders, victims, and other household members. While coercive behavior explains some family violence, aggression can also be reactive, triggered by emotional stimulus. Insight into triggers of family violence can inform policy and mitigate abusive behavior. Card, D. and G. B. Dahl. (2011). “Family Violence and Football: The Effect of Unexpected Emotional Cues on Violent Behavior,” 126 The Quarterly Journal of Economics 103–43 undertook a novel analysis of family violence triggers using unexpected losses by American professional football teams. We extend research on this trigger using data from National Basketball Association (NBA) games. Our results show that unexpected NBA losses lead to increased in-home violence. Heterogeneity analyses show that these effects are larger for weekend games, when referees are fatigued, and closer to the playoff season. (JEL J44, K42, Z22).

Suggested Citation

  • Alexander Cardazzi & Bryan C McCannon & Brad R Humphreys & Zachary Rodriguez, 2024. "Emotional Cues and Violent Behavior: Unexpected Basketball Losses Increase Incidents of Family Violence," The Journal of Law, Economics, and Organization, Oxford University Press, vol. 40(2), pages 267-288.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:jleorg:v:40:y:2024:i:2:p:267-288.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/jleo/ewac014
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Brad R. Humphreys, 2023. "Professional Sports Subsidies and Urban Congestion Externalities: Assessing 50 Years of Failed Urban Economic Development Policies," Eastern Economic Journal, Palgrave Macmillan;Eastern Economic Association, vol. 49(4), pages 457-474, October.
    2. Chen, Shuoyu & Collins, Clay & Collins, Ivy, 2025. "Discrimination and subjective player ratings: Evidence from China," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
    3. Cai, Qingyin & Li, Qingxiao, 2026. "Emotional shocks and consumer spending," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 241(C).
    4. Travis Richardson & Steve Bickley & Ho Fai Ben Chan & Benno Torgler & Shamsunnahar Yasmin & Tim Pawlowski, 2026. "Emotional driving: Reference-dependent emotions and risky driving behavior after sporting events," Papers 2606.18805, arXiv.org.
    5. Brad R. Humphreys & Jane E. Ruseski, "undated". "Legalized Sports Betting and Mental Health," Working Papers 24-04, Department of Economics, West Virginia University.
    6. Mavisakalyan, Astghik & Otrachshenko, Vladimir & Popova, Olga, 2024. "Natural Disasters and Acceptance of Intimate Partner Violence: The Global Evidence," IZA Discussion Papers 17172, IZA Network @ LISER.
    7. Carsten Creutzburg & Wolfgang Maennig & Steffen Q. Mueller, 2026. "From bias to bliss: Racial preferences and worker productivity in tennis," Contemporary Economic Policy, Western Economic Association International, vol. 44(2), pages 380-393, April.
    8. Erika A. Davies Rodriguez & Zachary Rodriguez, 2026. "Pandemic Pets: How the Demand for Dogs Affects In‐Home Domestic Violence During COVID‐19," American Journal of Economics and Sociology, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 85(3), pages 371-379, May.
    9. Eduardo G. Minuci & Alexander Cardazzi & Candon Johnson, 2026. "Should more teams “trust the process” of tanking?," Contemporary Economic Policy, Western Economic Association International, vol. 44(2), pages 408-425, April.
    10. Clay Collins, 2026. "Emotional Cues, Election Outcomes, and Intimate Partner Violence," Eastern Economic Journal, Palgrave Macmillan;Eastern Economic Association, vol. 52(1), pages 107-135, January.
    11. Flynn, James & Meyers-Richter, Noah & Nencka, Peter, 2025. "Soccer’s Record on the Road: The Effect of Late-Night Sporting Events on Fatal Car Crashes," IZA Discussion Papers 18050, IZA Network @ LISER.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • J44 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Particular Labor Markets - - - Professional Labor Markets and Occupations
    • K42 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior - - - Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law
    • Z22 - Other Special Topics - - Sports Economics - - - Labor Issues

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