Booing is an age-old cathartic expression of disapproval that supposedly makes angry fans feel a bit better. But does it?

If you're a fan and you step back and think about what you're doing you do have to wonder what's the point? Does it make you feel better? Does it make those around you feel better? Does it make the people you're booing feel better? Does it make them play better? Or are you just a sheep?

Psychologists say people boo less out of pure anger than because they're trying to fit in. Are you going to get up off your sofa and start booing, all by yourself in your living room? Probably not. However, if you're surrounded by 30,000 other people who are booing, there's social pressure to do it. Christian End, a psychology professor from Xavier University who has studied fan behaviour calls this phenomenon "deindividuation." You surrender your identity to the collective group. "We become very sheep-like," says psychology professor Hirt. "We just follow along."

I, for one, would rather not be a sheep. I'd rather be there and support our boys and not start booing at the first misplaced pass. I'd rather not have the guy behind me screaming vitriol in my ear and no doubt spraying spit in my hair. I'd rather not have to double the number of St. John's Ambulance people due to the increased risk of heart attacks and aneurysms. Yes, I'd also rather we started playing better football but that is out of our hands. 

As fans we have no control over what happens on the pitch, and that is something many could do with coming to terms with, but we do have control over our own behaviour. If you really think that booing and screaming vitriol until you are red in the face is beneficial to anyone, go ahead, but I suggest you schedule a health check up.