How about Terror Management Theory? By supporting a cause that is probably going to win anyway, we gain little. But by supporting an unlikely cause such as Leonidas at Thermopylae, there is an increased possibility that if we succeed our accomplishments will live on past us, because it is so incredible. In this way, we would become immortal. One prediction from this explanation is that the greater the disparity between the underdog and the overdog the larger the preference towards the underdog will be, which seems to be backed up empirically (see the increased preference for Slovenia vs. Sweden in the referenced study).
“By supporting a cause that is probably going to win anyway, we gain little. But by supporting an unlikely cause such as Leonidas at Thermopylae, there is an increased possibility that if we succeed our accomplishments will live on past us, because it is so incredible.”
There are a couple problems with this. First, we might join Leonidas on those grounds but why would we root for him on those grounds? We’re not going to be remembered that way. Second, if one wants to be remembered one is probably best off just being on the side of the winners. Winners write history. Finally, this could explain the motivation of the underdog but I don’t think it explains the way we seem to be wired to root for the underdog (either biologically or culturally).
How about Terror Management Theory? By supporting a cause that is probably going to win anyway, we gain little. But by supporting an unlikely cause such as Leonidas at Thermopylae, there is an increased possibility that if we succeed our accomplishments will live on past us, because it is so incredible. In this way, we would become immortal. One prediction from this explanation is that the greater the disparity between the underdog and the overdog the larger the preference towards the underdog will be, which seems to be backed up empirically (see the increased preference for Slovenia vs. Sweden in the referenced study).
“By supporting a cause that is probably going to win anyway, we gain little. But by supporting an unlikely cause such as Leonidas at Thermopylae, there is an increased possibility that if we succeed our accomplishments will live on past us, because it is so incredible.”
There are a couple problems with this. First, we might join Leonidas on those grounds but why would we root for him on those grounds? We’re not going to be remembered that way. Second, if one wants to be remembered one is probably best off just being on the side of the winners. Winners write history. Finally, this could explain the motivation of the underdog but I don’t think it explains the way we seem to be wired to root for the underdog (either biologically or culturally).