Do we root for the underdog, or just enjoy seeing the favorite fail?

Countries & Cities · Published 13 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: We love a victory against the odds, from sports legends to cinematic heroes. But psychological research suggests our sympathy for the disadvantaged might actually be driven by a darker impulse: the pleasure of watching a dominant leader lose their power.

The term 'underdog' first appeared in the late 19th century, originally describing a dog defeated in a fight. Today, it describes any competitor expected to lose. In Western culture, we are deeply drawn to these narratives, finding echoes of the 'David and Goliath' myth, King Arthur, and the American Dream in the idea that hard work can overcome low social status. This cultural affinity is also visible in fiction, where the 'Fool' archetype often serves as an underdog. Characters like Charlie Chaplin's The Tramp use perceived ineptitude to overcome powerful establishment villains.

However, the motivation behind our support is debated. While some argue we empathize with the struggle and seek social justice, Austrian psychologist Fritz Heider suggested a role for schadenfreude—the pleasure derived from another's misfortune. A 1982 study by Stephen Ceci and Edward Kain explored this in political elections. They found that seeing a candidate lead in polls didn't necessarily make people dislike the underdog, but it did trigger a negative reaction toward the dominant leader. Interestingly, when polls showed the leader losing ground, support shifted back to the leader, suggesting our 'support' might actually be a reaction to the leader's potential downfall. This phenomenon is linked to our innate preference for fairness and equality when managing shared resources. Some even use the term 'giant-killer' to describe a lesser competitor who defeats a favorite.

In sports, unexpected triumphs are often called 'Cinderella stories.' This terminology gained widespread use following the 1950 Disney film and the City College of New York's basketball championship. While we celebrate these 'fairy-tale runs,' researchers warn that portraying underdogs solely as objects of sympathy can be patronizing, potentially overlooking their actual agency and dignity. Before this term became common, unexpected successes were often called 'Miracles,' such as the 1980 'Miracle on Ice.' In Soviet sports, a similar concept existed, where mid-table teams were known as 'Thunder to the Dominant.'

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