Is this superstition just in their head? Do you feel there is any scientific explanation to back up their faith? Do you have any superstitions? How would you feel if you went to a game or a meet without your lucky charm? Do you think this superstition affects boys or girls more? Are they different kinds; do girls think more about outfits and boys think more about routines, etc.?
Read more about this in Mayberry's article, Unearthing Superstitions http://psychologyofsports.com/2010/06/08/unearthing-superstitions/
I have certainly experienced this kind of superstition among the athletes on my cross country team, and I would have trouble pointing out for you one member of my team who DOESN'T have a superstitious ritual before a meet. Some girls straighten their hair before every meet, some have to eat a specific type of ice cream the night before, and I personally have to have my nails painted neon orange. Of course we all recognize how ridiculous these superstitions are and I know that there is nothing to prove that these rituals help our performance. That being said, performance in our sport is extremely dependent on our mental state, and I think that carrying out these pre-race rituals help to ease our minds, get us into a competitive and focused state of mind, and help us become more confident - which I agree with the article is probably the reason why superstitions can lead to enhanced performance for athletes. I certainly do not think that they are harmful unless a person becomes dependent on them to the point that not fulfilling their superstition will negatively affect their performance, in which case I think that it is taken too far. I think that we all need to recognize that the effects of superstitions and rituals are mental for athletes, and if we do I think that they can be put to good use in helping to ease one's mind and put them in the right state to compete at their highest level. I think that you would probably find these kinds of superstitions more in girls than you would in boys, but I also think that girls focus more on articles of clothing or aspects of their appearance, while boys would probably focus more on actions or routines before a competition.
ReplyDeleteReading this I am instantly reminded of the scene in Harry Potter where Harry pretends gives Ron this good luck potion known as Felix Felicis(?). He pretends to do so conspicuously, so that Ron actually believes he has good luck. While this isn't necessarily superstition, it does follow the same idea known as the placebo effect. I personally do not believe in superstitions, mostly because I never follow a set routine; I'm constantly changing my mind and my plans. I just kind of go with the flow, and whatever happens, happens. The sport I participate in does not really call for rituals or 'lucky charms', but I agree with Ellie when she says that players do have little things they like to do to psych themselves up before a game or meet. I also believe that while you cannot make a statement about girls in general being more superstitious than boys or vice versa, many people do have routines they like to follow in general, not just in sports. Going back to the reference I made to Harry Potter, I think that if people really do believe that their good luck charm will bring them good fortune in a game, then. But also going back to what Ellie said, people can take their superstitions too far, and it can have a negative impact on their performance. The only scientific explanation that can come out of this is that superstitions do calm the mind and give a person more confidence in their ability to do well.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I don't believe that the act of being superstitious helps physical performance, i do believe that performing these little quirks or superstitions does indeed help to place athletes in the right frame of mind and help them get amped up for their meet or game. I think that these superstitions and quirks are entirely about one's mental state and in no way are really NEEDED for an athlete to perform well.I am not an athlete and therefore do not have any quirks related to sports but i would think that my "before game" ritual would be very important in helping me get ready for my game.
ReplyDeleteI think that superstitions affects both girls and boys in the same ways. Both girls and boys play sports and have found ways to help them get into their "zones" no matter what is it, be it outfits or rituals and mantras.
Superstitions and rituals shouldn't exactly be taken as a serious science in my opinion, but instead, more as a means to help an athlete get into his or her "physical zone".
Superstitions generate from religious beliefs and are often taken to the next level, when it is believed that they can effect a person's luck. Though an athlete may believe that his or her's good fortunes are reliant upon wearing the same pair of shorts, it's actually because of his or her's skill. There is no scientific proof that superstitions work, because they don't. Like Ellie said, it gets the athlete into the "competition mindset" to prepare for a big game.
ReplyDeleteBeing that I'm born on the 13th, I always have people ask me if I was born on a Friday. I always find this question silly because I don't have continuous bad luck. The only "good luck charm" that I have is a necklace I found. It kept appearing in different places around my house when I was having a bad day. I don't believe that it will give me luck, but I do always get compliments when I wear it. Superstitions don't effect a certain gender. I believe that it all depends on the type of household you grow up in, and your own personal experiences with good v. bad luck.
I believe superstitions develop when a person achieves an amazing feat, such as a winning shot in a basketball game or coming first in a race, and they look back on what they did that day and think well it must have been this or that.A lot of athletes also believe that certain things or rituals will bring them luck or get them in the "competition mindset" as Ellie said. When actually it was their skill. It was that extra hour of practice that they put in or the time they spent studying the techniques of other players.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I can't think of any superstitions that I have. I also agree with Stefanie that superstitions don't effect a certain gender, it depends on your upbringing and personal experiences that cause you to conclude that a certain item or ritual brought you luck.
I cannot agree more with Ellie in the fact that the cross country team is extremely superstitious. Before every meet I have a certain way I like to do my warm up, I pray the Hail Mary five times before, I need to have orange pre-wrap in my hair, and majority of the time my hair is straightened. Over the years some of the same traditions are passed down to the girls; for example the day before the state meet the girls go out together and get their nails all painted blue. We know down deep that the result of the race has nothing to do with all of these rituals that we do, but being our sport is extremely mental these rituals do not seem too out of place. Although I am speaking for myself I know that majority of the girls on my team would agree with me, these rituals give us peace of mind. I tell myself that because I did everything that my race must be good because of it and like the article said it is a confidence boost. I believe that both boys and girls have equal superstitions prior to competing in sports. I think that it depends on the individual whether or not they do more routine based things or articles of clothing. There could be boys who wear the same socks or underwear for every game or meet they are in.
ReplyDeleteAgreeing with Deanna and Ellie, I feel that our cross country team has specific do's and don'ts that help contribute to the outcome of our meets. I know that my superstition is to have my hair braided before every single race. This small little action not only makes me feel better but gives me a boost of confidence which leads to a better race time in the end. For example, when I do not have my hair braided I don't feel as powerful as I normally would. This effect happens amongst a lot of superstitions because while you are completing the superstition you are making yourself feel better and when you feel better you do better in anything you are competing in. Personally, I feel that superstition relies on the head of the beholder because you are basically "psyching" yourself out. I don't feel like there is any scientific explanation to back up superstitions but I feel like we all experience this "extra force" which pushes us to do better. Boys and girls are affected by superstition equally; they both have different types of ways they go about their superstitions for an example boys may have a lucky pair of socks that they must always wear while girls can have a lucky sports bra that helps enhance their performance.
ReplyDeleteI think that superstitions come are silly little ways that we make ourselves feel more comfortable with something. I don't think they are really what makes us score the winning goal or get a 100% on a test. When I was little I actually believed that if I stepped on a crack in the sidewalk my mom's back would break, so when I was mad at her, I would step on as many cracks as possible - obviously, she never broke her back. Looking back I realize how ridiculous it was to believe that. Like Sav said, after doing well, we look back on something we did before that and think "well, that must have brought me good luck" when it you who make you do well, not a having a rabbits tail in your back pocket. I'm not superstitious at all. And I think boys and girls are equally superstitious depending on what you have experienced that has influenced your beliefs.
ReplyDeleteI have definitely been a victim of superstition in sports. I use to have my own superstition on what I had to wear in my volleyball game to play well. Now I have other sorts of quirks that I use if we are losing and sometimes they work but other times they don't. By them working more out of the times, it makes it seem like it really does effect the situation and work. In volleyball everyone on the court has a turn to serve. Many people have a ritual on how they serve. They have to bounce the ball 3 times then touch their toes. That is an extreme but almost every volleyball player has some ritual that if they dont do the ball will not go over the net. That is superstition. Also my coaches have won states for the past 4 years. Last year they did the exact same thing they did in the past to ensure that they would win. We won states just like the year before but we lost TOC. So it worked to an extent I believe.
ReplyDeleteI think it effects girls and boys. Boys probably have more of a routine where girls do worry about their outfits. Girls probably have a specific ribbon they have to wear, where boys probably have game music they have to listen to. This is not true for everyone but its probably the majority. I don't really think there is any scientific date to prove it. I do think that it does happen to a lot of people, so I don't think its a sense of chance. I believe that there is scientific data but I don't believe it has been found yet.
I use to be very superstitious and I still am, but the more I make choices based on the past or if i say if i don't make my serve over then x y and z is going to happen, I miss my serve. I'm starting to stop believing so much in superstitious but I think they will always be a part that will be stuck with me.
Going off of what Sav and Brittany said, I also think that superstitions form after accomplishing something. It's easy to look back on your performance and notice something that was present this time when you won that wasn't present before, and attribute that to your success or failure. Because I'm not a very superstitious person, I don't think that there is any scientific data to label a certain trinket or routine as good or bad luck, however the confidence it may instill in the athlete may enable them to perform better wearing the object than if they were to perform without it.
ReplyDeleteOverall, I tend to think that boys and girls utilize superstitions, whether in clothing, routines, or objects, about equally. Many athletes that I know feel uncomfortable before a match or game if they don't have their good luck charm. If they didn't bring their object or perform their routine, it may negatively effect their performance as their mind wouldn't be at ease. I don't think it has anything to do with the good luck charm itself, just with the psychological act of completing the routine before a game.
Do you think this superstition affects boys or girls more? Are they different kinds; do girls think more about outfits and boys think more about routines, etc.?
ReplyDeleteSo I think that superstitions are more or less psychological, if the athlete feels like it helps then they do it. I don't think there is scientific data to prove superstition or even luck. But if the athlete thinks it works, then by all means I think they should wear the charm/trinket or do whatever routine they need to.
I'm not really a superstitious person, but I'm also not an athlete, which makes a difference too.
I think if affects both girls and boys, but differently. Boys definitely focus more on doing things a certain way while girls seem to be more focused on wearing thinks, like Deanna mentioned with her orange wrap in her hair.But most of the athletes I know, boys or girls, have pre-game rituals that they do.
Even not considering sports, Pete Wentz once said if the entire band didn't high five each other before a Fall Out Boy concert, something would go wrong.
I defiantly agree with Maria, it's not a good luck charm, but the psychological act of completing the routine before the game.
I am personally not one to believe in superstitions but I do feel that if I went to a game or meet with a lucky charm, or a lucky outfit, it gets me mentally prepared and does calm me down. A certain outfit may just make you comfortable or may even remind of the time that you did win wearing that same outfit. Because of this, you may feel as though you can win again so I definitely think that superstitions are in your head. They probably help you point out the positive and negatives of a situation. I do Indian Classical Dance and I found that my dance teacher, like many other Indian dance teachers, have many superstitions, like it is unlucky to have your left foot touch the stage before your right foot and although I did not believe in that, following these traditions made me feel even more ready. I personally feel that girls would be more likely to be superstitious because girls take more time to analyze things while boys don't necessarily worry about things ahead of time. Rather, they take things as they come.
ReplyDeleteAlthough i do not feel superstitions have any effect on everyday life i do know people who would say different. For some superstitions are almost like a religion, they follow them closely and have their own beliefs towards it. I think when something favorable happens more then once we tend to find a reason as to why, and this make ourselves believe that something caused the favorable action to happen. I have a friend names Ryan who loves football. Before every game he has the same ritual and must wear the same shirt to every game. He also refuses to get a hair cut during football season because he feels it will affect the way he plays. Although all of this is probably not true, him changing his routine for one game will through off his mentality and possibly cause him to not play as well. In my individual life i see the men around me affected more by superstition then the women. I feel like women are more logical and men are more likely to believe in superstitions.I think men are more superstitious towards sports while women are more superstitious about everyday life affairs, like walking under ladders and broken mirrors causing bad luck.
ReplyDeleteI always see superstitions in athletes. I know a lot of girls on my soccer team have handshakes that they do before every game. Some girls, myself included, wear "lucky" sports bras. I've even had girls on my teams who don't shave until we lose a game.....that year we went undefeated. I think that people want to believe that there is a little something extra working in favor of their team's goal.I don't necessarily believe that we will lose if i wear a different sports bra, I just think that having a routine or a lucky charm puts an athletes mind at ease while they are playing. It's comforting; i kind of see performing rituals as leaving no stone un-turned. After you perform your ritual and if you were to lose, it is no one's fault but you're own, so you fight harder. I think this superstition affects many athletes and the gender does not play a role.
ReplyDeleteAs a lot of my classmates said, I don't think that superstitions have any kind of real or proven effect on people but it does change their state of mind. If someone is playing a sport and they always wear the same pair of socks, and one game they have different socks on, it's in the players head that they're going to lose or not do as well. The player obviously has the same skill set no matter what socks they're wearing, but mentally they feel better if they're wearing the socks or whatever their good luck charm is. I don't think any specific gender is more affected by superstitions, anyone is subject to a ritual or wearing a lucky charm, and whether or not a person believes in lucky charms, superstitions, or rituals is something that differs in individuals and isn't more common throughout a gender.
ReplyDeleteI believe in superstitions only because I think that when people think about an outcome or a result it is more likely to happen, kind of like the law of attraction. The only explanation behind people’s faith for their superstitions is that it worked once or twice therefore why wouldn’t it work again. I think if a person went to a game or meet without their charm they would get really nervous and anxious which would affect their performance. If an athlete did not do well without their “lucky charm” I think that would cause them just to believe in the charm more. In my life I see guys more superstitious about what they wear and girls more about their routine. I know before I bowl I have a specific routine I follow to calm myself down and to focus, without it I don’t feel ready and I don’t do as well. However, the Bosco boys who we bowl with all wear long knee high socks when they bowl Bergen Catholic and boys from Fairlawn wear mountain dew pajama pants at tournaments.
ReplyDeleteLike many people have stated, I true do not believe in luck, but rather skill. Through skill alone talents are shown. the only luck that I believe is that the child/person was introduced to the correct activity. So all in all, after thinking this over and typing of my response maybe both aspects play into the expression of a talent.
ReplyDeleteWhile I think that the concept of superstition in sports is common and understandable, I don't think it can be scientifically supported. I have never personally experienced this type of superstition, but that probably is due to the fact that I don't play sports. What I think this boils down to is an illusory correlation: someone just happened to be wearing a certain article of clothing during a victorious game and so now they associate that particular item with victory. I think all athletes are affected by this equally, and that there is no way of determining whether girls or boys prefer routines to outfits or vice versa. It all depends on the individual.
ReplyDeleteI do think that superstition just in the head. I would not say there is a scientific explanation for why athletes have crazy routines and superstitions. I do not believe that there could be an explanation because there is no direct correlation between performance in a game when an athlete does their ritual or has their lucky charm and an athlete's performance when an they have a routine that they do not perform before a big game. I have certain superstitions for different things that I do. Before I perform in a track meet I always listen to the same songs on my iPod in the same order and perform the same warm-up stretches in conjunction to the music. I do not think that I have to do this every time in order to do well in my meet. I only do this to calm down and relax in order for me to do my best. I think that if an athlete has routine and structure is provides them with a ‘map’ and steps to reach success, which of course would be in their minds. I believe that neither sex is affected more by lucky charms or superstitions. I do believe however, that girls are superstitious about what they wear. It is a prevailing thought among most girls that if they wore a certain article of clothing one time and something great happened, that the next time they wear the clothing something similar may happen (i.e. meeting a cute boy)
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