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Sports Superstitions Have Power
Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson play basketball
Photo credit: AP Photo/Eric Draper
Superstitions are found in all levels of sports and players often rely on superstitious beliefs to power a performance.
A hockey player taps the ice three times before the puck drops. A baseball player always wears the same socks. A basketball player eats spaghetti before every game. Superstitions are found in all levels of sports, from recreational to professional, and experts say the more elite a player is, the more likely that person is to rely on superstitious beliefs to power a performance.
Athletes' superstitions usually develop after noteworthy matchups—such as great games or crushing defeats. Players tend to review what they did those days and make connections to their performances. For example, if an athlete heard a certain song before a great game, that player may draw the conclusion that the song was lucky—and listen to it before every game that follows. But if the song played before a dismal performance, it might be considered bad luck. Some athletes attribute their successes to wearing certain things, like socks or a particular hat. Michael Jordan famously wore his collegiate basketball shorts under his Chicago Bulls uniform for every game. And hockey great Wayne Gretzky refused to get haircuts before away games.
Socks, songs, and spaghetti don't really have the power to influence the outcome of a competition. Still, many athletes rely on these superstitions in addition to their physical fitness to fuel their performances and further their aspirations. And it seems to work.
But why?
Athletes are powerless to predict the outcome of a game because there are so many factors at play. Researchers say athletes develop superstitions in order to feel some control over the unpredictable. This illusion of control gives players a boost of confidence that, if they wear the socks, listen to the song, tap the ice, or eat the same meal, the game will go their way—because it has in the past. And it's the confidence stemming from the superstition that causes the result, not the items in their possession or their repeated actions. The powerful superstition makes the athletes believe they will perform better, so as a result, they often do.
QUESTION 2
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Based on the article, which of these is true about superstitions in sports?
The power of a superstition comes from the game control it gives a player.
The more recreational players are, the more they rely on superstitions.
The more elite players are, the less likely they are to rely on superstitions.
The power of a superstition comes from the confidence it gives a player.
1 answer
Based on the article, the correct statement about superstitions in sports is:
The power of a superstition comes from the confidence it gives a player.
The article explains that this confidence boosts an athlete's performance and results, rather than the superstitions themselves having any actual influence on the game.
