Head Games

Career

Golden State Wins: Cohesion, Defined Roles, and Andrew Wiggins

Benjamin D. Rosenberg, Ph.D., and Bret Levine, Ph.D. on June 21, 2022

Team cohesion—specifically strong norms and clearly defined roles—helped Andrew Wiggins and the Warriors win another NBA title.

Team cohesion—specifically strong norms and clearly defined roles—helped Andrew Wiggins and the Warriors win another NBA title.

Intelligence

Maslow's Hierarchy of Quarterback Needs

Benjamin D. Rosenberg, Ph.D., and Bret Levine, Ph.D. on April 4, 2022

A Personal Perspective: Maslow's hierarchy of needs may help explain NFL rankings.

A Personal Perspective: Maslow's hierarchy of needs may help explain NFL rankings.

Coronavirus Disease 2019

Can MLB Players Persuade Americans to Get Vaccinated?

Benjamin D. Rosenberg, Ph.D., and Bret Levine, Ph.D. on June 7, 2021

Major League Baseball — and its players — could play a key role in closing the vaccination gap and helping end the pandemic.

Major League Baseball — and its players — could play a key role in closing the vaccination gap and helping end the pandemic.

Coaching

Bruce Arians Is an Antiracist – and a Damn Smart Coach

Benjamin D. Rosenberg, Ph.D., and Bret Levine, Ph.D. on February 14, 2021

Does diversity matter? In coaching and team formation, it sure does.

Does diversity matter? In coaching and team formation, it sure does.

Defense Mechanisms

There’s No Such Thing as a Super Bowl Curse

Benjamin D. Rosenberg, Ph.D., and Bret Levine, Ph.D. on January 28, 2021

A Super Bowl curse? Not so fast – losers of the Big Game may fare worse, but they're not cursed. Regression to the mean is the likely culprit.

A Super Bowl curse? Not so fast – losers of the Big Game may fare worse, but they're not cursed. Regression to the mean is the likely culprit.

Conformity

Unlikely Heroes: The Miami Marlins Break the Glass Ceiling

Benjamin D. Rosenberg, Ph.D., and Bret Levine, Ph.D. on November 15, 2020

The Miami Marlins are unlikely heroes, breaking conformity and the glass ceiling at the same time.

The Miami Marlins are unlikely heroes, breaking conformity and the glass ceiling at the same time.

Play

Team Chemistry Is Planet Nine

Benjamin D. Rosenberg, Ph.D., and Bret Levine, Ph.D. on October 21, 2020

So-called experts say team chemistry matters but can't be measured. Science disagrees: Chemistry is measurable and contributes considerably to success.

So-called experts say team chemistry matters but can't be measured. Science disagrees: Chemistry is measurable and contributes considerably to success.

Race and Ethnicity

The NFL Has a Race-Related Suspension Problem

Benjamin D. Rosenberg, Ph.D., and Bret Levine, Ph.D. on July 14, 2020

Do NFL league officials' suspension decisions exhibit racial bias? Research on controlled processing could shed light on this question.

Do NFL league officials' suspension decisions exhibit racial bias? Research on controlled processing could shed light on this question.

Race and Ethnicity

The NFL Has a Race-Related Ejection Problem

Benjamin D. Rosenberg, Ph.D., and Bret Levine, Ph.D. on June 25, 2020

Do NFL referees' in-game ejections decisions exhibit racial bias? Research on automatic processing could shed light on this question.

Do NFL referees' in-game ejections decisions exhibit racial bias? Research on automatic processing could shed light on this question.

Persuasion

It Started with a Knee: How BLM Swept the Nation

Benjamin D. Rosenberg, Ph.D., and Bret Levine, Ph.D. on June 7, 2020

It all started with a knee: The science of how Colin Kaepernick and Black Lives Matter swept the nation.

It all started with a knee: The science of how Colin Kaepernick and Black Lives Matter swept the nation.

Leadership

The Last, Last Dance: How to Motivate Isolated Athletes

Benjamin D. Rosenberg, Ph.D., and Bret Levine, Ph.D. on May 28, 2020

Isolation can be draining. What does science say about motivating socially isolated professional athletes?

Isolation can be draining. What does science say about motivating socially isolated professional athletes?

Coronavirus Disease 2019

Coronavirus Immunity: The New Steroids?

Benjamin D. Rosenberg, Ph.D., and Bret Levine, Ph.D. on April 24, 2020

People will do some crazy things to accomplish their goals. Would professional athletes be crazy enough to contract coronavirus to gain an economical advantage?

People will do some crazy things to accomplish their goals. Would professional athletes be crazy enough to contract coronavirus to gain an economical advantage?

Stress

Americans Need Baseball, Now More Than Ever

Benjamin D. Rosenberg, Ph.D., and Bret Levine, Ph.D. on March 23, 2020

How professional sports can ease social distancing.

How professional sports can ease social distancing.

Sport and Competition

No One Thinks They Own a Lemon

Benjamin D. Rosenberg, Ph.D., and Bret Levine, Ph.D. on February 28, 2020

Are NFL teams overvaluing their top draft picks?

Are NFL teams overvaluing their top draft picks?

Forgiveness

The Houston Astros Are Sorry Not Sorry

Benjamin D. Rosenberg, Ph.D., and Bret Levine, Ph.D. on February 20, 2020

The Houston Astros showed us how not to apologize. Here's what science says about the right way to apologize.

The Houston Astros showed us how not to apologize. Here's what science says about the right way to apologize.