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Sport and Competition

Jeremy Lin: Beyond the Numbers

By Michael W. Kraus, Ph.D. on February 20, 2012 in Under the Influence

What makes Jeremy Lin a special point guard? One answer might be that his teammates trust him. Read More

65 Quotes on Dancing

By Dr. Stephanie Sarkis, Ph.D. on February 17, 2012 in Here, There, and Everywhere

Dancing. You may love it or you may hate it, but it is universal. Learn what famous authors, dancers, and choreographers have to say about this worldwide activity. In the words of George Bernard Shaw, "If you can't get rid of the skeleton in your closet, you'd best teach it to dance." Read More

When Generosity Meets Venture Capital

By Nipun Mehta on February 17, 2012 in Pay It Forward

In this context, being a CEO of a 150-person company was just run of the mill. Unfortunately, what was also run of the mill was a singular focus on money. Greed. People cheered when a speaker spoke about unethical behavior. On the other hand, the crux of my message was pretty simple—do a small act of service, and the insights will appear; if they don't, keep doing more. Read More

Is Jeremy Lin Like Jackie Robinson?

By Rodolfo Mendoza-Denton, Ph.D. on February 17, 2012 in Are We Born Racist?

As a student of stereotypes and intergroup relations, the Jeremy Lin phenomenon makes me wonder whether Lin has opened the door for Asian American athletes to finally stop being overlooked in American sports, much in the same way that Jackie Robinson did for African American athletes. There is reason for both gloom and hope. Read More

Whitewater Rafting: Therapy for PTSD?

By Eric Newhouse on February 17, 2012 in Invisible Wounds

Neuroscientists believe that extreme sports, like whitewater rafting, can help PTSD patients learn to relax after stress. The huge adrenaline rush also leaves them with positive memories. And one neuroscientist says the exercise is as effective an antidepressant as any pharmaceutical. Read More

Bad Luck or Psychological Reversal?

By Susan Heitler, Ph.D. on February 16, 2012 in Resolution, Not Conflict

What seems like bad luck may stem from the subconscious workings of a phenomenon that therapists are just at the very beginning stages of recognizing and treating. Read More

LINsanity! Observations on the Worship of a New Sports Hero

By Ravi Chandra, M.D. on February 16, 2012 in The Pacific Heart

Linfluenza virus causes Linsanity! The birth of a sports hero, and what he means to the Asian American community and the country as a whole: Jeremy Lin represents our best self, the underdog overcoming long odds to win the heart of the nation—paralleling President Obama's rise. Read More

Why Is Jeremy Lin so Good?

By Nate Kornell, Ph.D. on February 15, 2012 in Everybody Is Stupid Except You

Jeremy Lin might just be lucky. But his success illustrates our psychological inability to come to grips with an iron law of statistics: regression to the mean. Read More

Some Ways to Practice Are More Perfect Than Others

By Susan Heitler, Ph.D. on February 14, 2012 in Resolution, Not Conflict

What separates world-class performers from everyone else is how they practice. Here are the keys to becoming far better at whatever you love doing. Read More

Is It Time to Reconsider the Purpose of Amateur Sports?

By Ray Williams on February 13, 2012 in Wired for Success

Thirty million children are involved in youth sports in North America, under the direction of 4.5 million coaches and 1.5 million administrators. When these programs place inordinate emphasis on competition and winning, they become detrimental rather than beneficial. Read More

Eight Keys to Life Hardiness and Resiliency

By Preston Ni, M.S.B.A. on February 11, 2012 in Communication Success

Helen Keller once wrote: “Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired and success achieved.” As we navigate through challenging times toward a better future, it’s useful to visit some tried and true ideas regarding life hardiness and resiliency. Read More

Stop Thinking So Much

By E. Paul Zehr, Ph.D. on February 10, 2012 in Black Belt Brain

Sometimes we try to use our big brains to micromanage our movements. Success can often be had by letting things happen on their own. Read More

Is the Male Sex Drive the Cause of Wars?

By Mark van Vugt, Ph.D. on February 9, 2012 in Naturally Selected

Why are humans so tribal and why do tribal wars almost always involve men as both perpetrators and victims? Our latest research suggests that men maybe biologically programmed to be warriors. Read More

The Neuroscience of Imagination

By Christopher Bergland on February 8, 2012 in The Athlete's Way

Albert Einstein said of the theory of relativity, "I thought of it while riding my bicycle." New ideas tend to bubble up and crystallize when you are inside the aerobic zone. While walking, jogging, biking ... you are able to problem solve in way that is different than when you are sitting at your desk. Neuroscientists are just beginning to understand this phenomenon. Read More

Hypo-Hypochondria, Or Is It Me?

By Eliezer Sobel on February 7, 2012 in The 99th Monkey

Comedian Richard Lewis once began a performance by saying, "I just came from spending a weekend with my family; I can't tell you how glad I am to be speaking in front of 20,000 strangers." I don't like to whine and complain about my various physical ailments to my friends and family... much. Read More

Scandal: There Is No Yale University!

By Stanton Peele on February 6, 2012 in Addiction in Society

You know the Yale Rhodes Scholar candidate who played for his team instead of going for his Rhodes interview? He's charged with sexual assault, wasn't really scheduled for an interview, and—almost worst of all—his team was crushed by Harvard (worst of all a woman was killed at the game and no one noticed). And, oh, there is no such place as Yale. Read More

Superbowl XLVI Ads: A Biopsy of the American Mind

By Prudence Gourguechon, MD on February 5, 2012 in Psychoanalytic Excavation

Each year, companies spend a fortune to buy advertising time during the Superbowl game. They aim to make the biggest impact of the year and to cement powerful connections and images that will lead to vital consumer buying decisions. To accomplish that aim the creators of the ads know they have to engage the viewers on an emotional level. Read More

Lessons From the Court: What Basketball Can Teach Us About Overcoming Social Anxiety

By Greg Markway, Ph.D., on February 5, 2012 in Shyness Is Nice

Sports represent the ultimate in reality television. In addition to the competition, there are the personal stories behind the events. This background adds a mythical subtext that exemplifies why athletes are sometimes seen as heroes. Read More

What Sports Mean to Us - and Why it's Important

By Mark Banschick, M.D. on February 5, 2012 in The Intelligent Divorce

A nail-biter compelling, but in ways that you may not imagine. Read More

New Ways Exercise Works

By Matthew J. Edlund, M.D. on February 2, 2012 in The Power of Rest

Moving transforms you—from the inside out. Read More

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