A look at our obsession with winning and losing

By

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – If the Seattle Seahawks end up winning the Super Bowl on Sunday, it could actually cause your self confidence to soar!

An expert at UBC is exploring our primal fascination with winning and losing.

Winning is often seen as a confirmation of “being right” about many things, like one’s approach to challenges, fears, aspirations, and life in general.

Sociology Professor Francesco Duina has been studying this in depth. “The average person identifies with the athlete, seeing a bit of the athlete as a reflection of themselves.”

He notes this extends beyond the sporting event. “After their team wins, they can often think of themselves as better people in general. There is a real sense of change in one’s perception of oneself.”

But when there is a big loss, there are mood swings to be had.

“The reverse happens, your self esteem goes down and it goes beyond the confines of the athletic event,” explains Duina.

He says extensive psychological and sociological research suggests that losing can have serious repercussions on one’s self-esteem and understanding of belonging and legitimacy.

Losers tend to doubt themselves broadly — even in areas that have nothing to do with the event itself. Losing also triggers much more self-analysis than winning. If the individual represents a country, as with the Olympics, then the entire cultural, economic, and political systems of that country are called into question. It can often be an unbearable amount of pressure.

Duina notes the degree can vary, depending on where you live. “You do see this sort of behaviour across the world, but different cultures put different emphasis on sports.”

Top Stories

Top Stories

Most Watched Today