If you really want to understand the psychology of sports you probably should study the history of games in all different societies and how serious they took them. It is believed that in the Mayan culture the losers were sacrificed to the gods. In Greece, the winners were treated as gods. And in our society, we give the winners fame & fortune. So as spectators, we are living vicariously through these athletes and dreaming “what if?”
So why do we choose the sports we do? I think that’s as simple as where you grew up. If you grow up playing soccer, then you’re interested in soccer. Same with football, baseball, or cricket.
But why do we play? This could be a question for a doctoral dissertation. The most obvious reason is that it satisfies our need for competition. Why do we have that need? I have no idea. But the more compelling reason we play I believe is that sports teach ‘Life Leasons.” They teach that it takes hard work & discipline to be successful. They also teach that you will not always win, but when you lose you come back, practice more, & try again. They teach you not to quit just because it’s hard. They also teach leadership & teamwork skills. All these skills you use throughout your life.
Sports have been instrumental in changing our society for the better. Sports were very important in integration in the South. When white players started standing beside their African American teammates, it was only a matter of time before society followed.
There are many movies that portray these benefits. One of the best is ‘Remember the Titans’. Movies from other sports include ‘Hoosiers’, Chariot’s of Fire’, ‘Rocky’, & ‘Field of Dreams’. Watch any of these and you’ll understand it’s not just about fame & fortune.
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