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The
Psychology of Sports
Super
Psychology-The Super Bowl The Super Bowl has become such an important
event in our society that it has taken on the stature of many of our
religious and national holidays and has become embedded in our family
traditions. Barring a tragedy of global importance in
the next week, the glut of stories emanating from Like any event of this magnitude, the Super
Bowl allows an individual to partake in the excitement to any degree they
wish. Traditional Super Bowl galas, parties,
office pools, trips, and dinners -- where some people pay more attention to
what they’re eating than the game itself -- are just a few of the
activities people put together for the event. All, however, are attempts to
provide psychological dividends. For many, the activities provide a sense of
continuity, certainty and structure which often leads to emotional stability
and greater capacity to enjoy ourselves.
Despite the fact that emotional stability is not a necessary
precondition for having fun, it has been my experience as a psychologist,
that many require it to do so. The more emotionally capable individual is
able to do both. The games leading up to the championship are
events that allow the involved football fan to escape their daily lives.
Feelings and sometimes actions -- which for the most part would not be
considered enhancing if expressed in other venues – are sublimated and
harmlessly discharged during the regular season. The Super Bowl allows for a vast and more
expansive expression of emotions than those individuals bring to a regular
season event. For devoted Eagles’ and Patriots’ fans, or even those fans
rooting for either team for just one day, it is an opportunity for them to
let it all hang out in one emotional orgasmic climax. Sport by its very nature allows us to be
critical, judgmental, and effusive in praise. We are treated to an entire
spectrum of emotional responses from just one football game. Fans make
judgments about certain plays based upon the specifics of how it happened
and under which circumstance it occurred. Each fan has his own set of
standards which he applies to each specific event. Need proof? Listen
to sports talk radio in any city across the country the day following a
loss. This too happens in everyday life where
people sit in judgment of others. It gives them a false sense of control and
temporary psychological equality or superiority over those they judge. At times, a majority of people see various
events in the same manner. Nonetheless, they are, for the most part, being
subjectively judgmental. For example, Jets kicker Doug Brien’s
missed field goals against the Steelers will not be soon forgotten by |
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