Goal Posts

In the last edition of Goal Posts, we examined several ways that LeBron James could work through poor performances in the NBA Finals, particularly in the fourth quarter of close games. On Thursday evening in Game 5 vs. the Dallas Mavericks, James again performed below expectations. The teams now return to Miami with Dallas leading the series 3-2. Read More

Why do athletes choke? R.J. Hildebrand, a 23-year-old rookie driver was poised to win the 2011 Indy 500 this past week. On the final lap, tragedy struck. As Hildebrand made the final turn, comfortably in the lead, he lost control of his car briefly, slammed into the wall, and was passed by Dan Wheldon. This shocking turn of events startled viewers and analysts. Read More

After the Green Bay Packers defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers in this year's Super Bowl, it struck me how many ways social psychology helps inform our understanding of players' and spectators' behavior. Below are six ways that social psychology helps us make sense of the Super Bowl. Read More

Less than one month ago, Vikings fans were energized by Childress’s signing of Moss. Moss is one of the most talented receivers in the history of the NFL. Childress had a better-than-average record as head coach. Both Moss and Childress had major blind spots that led to a messy exit from Minnesota. Read More

Sports fans are attuned to the concept of being in the zone, or being ‘hot'. Whether it is a basketball player, football quarterback, or a baseball player, we love to predict who will succeed and who will fail. Read More

In a recent blog, we examined Rick Pitino's marital infidelity and the way that he seemed to excuse his behavior by making external attributions. I also shared a story about a young basketball player at camp who did not want to accept responsibility for his part in a loss. How do we teach children to be honest about their actions, and how these actions led to failure? Read More

Humans have a need to feel good. This need leads us to engage in some fascinating and often delusional behavior. It can lead us to set goals, work hard, and be honest. However, when we have dug a small hole for ourselves, it can leads us to rationalize and justify all sorts of behavior. Read More

In the last edition of Goal Posts, I raised the question of why soccer has struggled to gain mass appeal in the United States. Thanks to all the readers who offered their views on this question. Read More

Game 7 of the NBA Finals is nearly 48 hours away, so the title of this blog may be a bit misleading. But probably not. In the history of the NBA, home teams have won more than 80% of Game 7's in the playoffs, including 13 of 16 in the NBA Finals. Read More

 Lakers - Celtics: Who wins and why? Read More

The last 30 seconds of the Duke-Butler National Championship Game provided a perfect demonstration of the psychological and tactical sides of basketball. So What Happened??? Read More

WHAT HAPPENED?

Why do fans ask this question so frequently? Is it because they believe their team ought to win every game? This cannot happen, yet fans act surprised, perplexed, and even outraged when their team does not win the national championship. Read More

In social psychology, we call the “What if” game counterfactual thinking (CT). Essentially, CT involves imagining what could have been, typically after a negative outcome. In a classic study, Medvec, Madey, and Gilovich coded the facial expressions of Olympic medalists. Not surprisingly, Gold medalists exhibited the most joy. However..... Read More

For parents and teachers concerned about student motivation, Hulleman and Harackiewicz’ research provides an elegant and effective tool for enhancing student interest and performance. Read More