Goal Posts

Commentary on the complex relationships between motivation, performance, competition, cooperation, and goals.

John Tauer, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor of Psychology and Assistant Men's Basketball Coach at the University of St. Thomas. See full bio

July 21, 2009

Image is Everything: LeBron James and the Pratfall Effect

Recently, LeBron James was dunked on at his basketball camp by a college sophomore named Jordan Crawford. This caused quite the stir, not necessarily because a 20-year-old dunked on James, but because of the reaction by James and corporate giant Nike. James and Nike representatives confiscated two videotapes of Crawford's dunk on James. Read More

July 14, 2009

Planters Peanuts, Pellets of Food, Playing Time, and Passion

When my son Jack was 9 months old, he had a favorite toy: The Exersaucer. This toy (pictured below with Jack, sans a full head of hair) had it all. It was like the Cadillac of toys for tots. Kids who couldn’t stand on their own were suspended in air and could rotate around to play with several different toys that stimulated their senses. Read More

July 7, 2009

Strawberry Shakes and Skittles

A friend of mine (Mark) has three daughters, all of whom have had very successful athletic and academic careers. Mark's oldest daughter, Mary, was a talented soccer player but reluctant to take the ball away from opponents. Mark tried futilely to convince Mary that it was ok to steal the ball from the other team, that this was a skill and important part of the game. Nothing seemed to work. Read More

June 30, 2009

Latrell Sprewell + Pizza Hut < Intrinsic Motivation

Latrell Sprewell grew up in the inner-city of Milwaukee loving the game of basketball. For a number of reasons, he didn't play high school basketball until his senior season at Washington High School. Sprewell went on to star at the University of Alabama, before becoming an NBA All-Star. During his career, he earned nearly $100 million. Read More

June 23, 2009

Different Motivational Strokes for Differentially Motivated Folks

As a psychology professor and college basketball coach, I get a unique opportunity to observe motivation in the classroom and on the court. I have also directed my own basketball camps for the past fifteen years. During that time, I have had the opportunity to work with thousands of young athletes. Read More

Sport and Competition Basics

From schoolyard chants to Super Bowl championships, playful competition finds its way into nearly all aspects of culture. Fighting to win draws on cooperation, concentration, coordination, and creativity--things worth striving for in their own right. That's why sports are more than just fun and games.

Go to the Sport and Competition Basics page for more on Sport and Competition including:

Current Issue

Everyday Creativity

How to start living creatively and reap the benefits.