Interesting. I will be teaching positive psychology for the first time this fall and am looking forward to it. Coincidentally, my nephew's high school basketball team was undefeated this year going into the final game for the New York State Championship in their division (Class D). They lost by a last minute (actually 7 seconds) 3-pointer. Despite a really phenomenal season (i.e., league champs; undefeated regular season; sectional champs, etc.), that final minute of the final game "taints" these young students' perception of themeselves (despite much fan adulation). Interesting stuff! BTW, the team was from Waterville, NY (outside of Utica). I am proud that my nephew received the Best Sportsmanship Award for the tournament! Cheers!
On Sun, Apr 5, 2015 at 8:39 AM, Mike Palij <[email protected]> wrote: > For those of you who don't follow college basketball, last > night were the "final four" games leading to the championship > game on Monday night. The University of Kentucky (UK) > was widely expected to win its game against Wisconsin last > night because of its perfect season and previous wins. > But -- horror of horrors -- UK ends up with an Epic Fail. > For one account of the horror, see: > http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaab/2015/04/04/final- > four-kentucky-first-loss-wisconsin-ncaa-tournament/25297217/ > UK students were so shocked by the loss that they rioted > after the game; see: > http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/eye-on- > college-basketball/25136373/kentucky-fans-riot-after- > losing-to-wisconsin-in-the-final-four > > So, this raises the question of what positive psychology > has to say to people who will be known for the rest of their > lives as being spectacular failures -- even if they go on > to professional careers, how often will a sports commentator > say that a player was "part of the Kentucky team that was > supremely upset by Wisconsin in 2015!"? > > Sports and sports fans can be very unforgiving, especially > when their heroes experience epic fails or a fall from grace > (I can't wait to start swearing at the TV when Alex Rodriguez > comes out to play in a Yankees Game; the season starts > tomorrow). Can positive psychology provide a helpful way > of dealing with this situation that doesn't sound like a > rationalization for being a loser? ;-) > > If so, somebody provide it to the NY Knickerbockers. :-( > > Tomorrow night: Wisconsin goes up against Duke. > Question: Do they really call people who go to Duke > "dookies"? ;-) > > -Mike Palij > New York University > [email protected] > > P.S. A search of scholar.google.com for "positive psychology" and > "epic fail" turned up no hits -- seems like a ripe area of research > for somebody. :-) > > > > > --- > You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]. > To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13522. > 468cbac056133a996283cca7e2976336&n=T&l=tips&o=43628 > or send a blank email to leave-43628-13522.468cbac056133a996283cca7e29763 > [email protected] > --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df5d5&n=T&l=tips&o=43630 or send a blank email to leave-43630-13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df...@fsulist.frostburg.edu
