Are rivalries healthy, or just a waste of time?

I love sport. I do not necessarily love the definition (too narrow); but I love what it stands for. I get just as much enjoyment interacting with opposition rugby supporters as I do watching the action on the pitch. "I hope your team does well, but ours does better" is about as bitter as it gets in the stand on match day.

This is also the reason that I dislike some games that claim to be sports; the kind that encourage bigotry and do little to cross cultural/ racial barriers or knit a just society together. The same is seen in the political arena, and I am ashamed that many in my home town did not vote in the Scottish independence election (2014) because they were afraid of the partisan crowds gathering at polling stations.

So why do certain teams and political opponents despise each other? Why can't we respect each others choices, but agree to disagree on preference? Is this yet another psychological phenomenon of a human condition that we must endure?

Freud attempted to explain this type of rivalry by arguing it violates the safety and sanctity of being unique (of being us). That is because doubles are always rivals and rivals are always doubles. We appear to be drawn to them because they are us, but our identity must be our own. This means that when shared, it comes under attack and we must battle with an “other” in order to secure who we are.

That kind of duality is common in all rivalry, and it means that we need it in order to define our self-identity. I am not suggesting it should be the primary ingredient that defines our personal and professional selves, but it certainly has a part to play. What would happen to Manchester City if Manchester United disappeared; it would be bad news for Batman if the Joker took a sabbatical!

My point is that I believe rivalry and competition is, to a degree, very healthy and I believe it should be encouraged at every level. Whilst I appreciate the argument behind awarding participant medals in school sports, I am still a fan of the winner being recognised. Competition defines us, it's all very tribal. But, if you permit it to generate toxic emotions (hatred, fear, etc.) then you must be very careful to avoid it developing into a terrible and debilitating condition called...being a twat.