Blogs

The Playing Field

Sport and Culture Through the Lens of Science
by Steven Kotler
Steven Kotler is the author of West of Jesus: Surfing, Science and the Origins of Belief. His magazine writing has appeared in more than 31 publications. See full bio
April 30, 2008, Sport and Competition

Comments on "Why We Love Losers"

Why We Love Losers

By Steven Kotler on April 30, 2008 in The Playing Field

The Psychology of the Underdog Read More

What about the fourth

Submitted by Randy M. Zeitman on May 1, 2008 - 5:16am.

What about the fourth reason?....because the payoff is the biggest! It costs no more to root for the underdog but if they win the payoff (of being right) is far larger.

In other words, it's satisfying the desire to be right...choosing the underdog that wins makes me more right than if I choose the favorite to win.

Post new comment

The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly.
  • Web page addresses and e-mail addresses turn into links automatically.
  • Allowed HTML tags: <a> <em> <strong> <cite> <code> <ul> <ol> <li> <dl> <dt> <dd>
  • Lines and paragraphs break automatically.

More information about formatting options


Subscribe to The Playing Field

Recent Posts in The Playing Field

Losing the Language of Happiness: the consequences of ecological destruction. by Steven Kotler
How Do Dogs Feel About Death? by Steven Kotler
Violence in Sports: Elizabeth Lambert Is Not Guilty As Charged! by Steven Kotler
How to spot the liars: the next revolution in truth telling. by Steven Kotler
Does Hope Trump Racism? by Steven Kotler
More of The Playing Field blog

Find a Therapist

Search our customized Directory for a licensed professional near you.
 See new therapists

Current Issue

Everyday Creativity

How to start living creatively and reap the benefits.