How do great rivalries in sports and business drive the performance of the competitors? A recent study provides some answers.
Athletes know they should just do their thing on the 18th hole, or during the penalty shootout, or when they’re taking a 3-point shot in the last moments of the game. But when that shot
An experiment involving fans of Major League Baseball's most intense rivals unearths a particularly troubling aspect of finding pleasure in others' pain.
If the NFL team you hate the most is in the Super Bowl, take heart. Psychological science suggests that a rival team’s win may improve your team’s motivation and performance next season.
Players' superstitious rituals may seem silly but research shows that having some kind of lucky token can actually improve performance – by increasing self-confidence.
Using self-talk -- repeating specific words or small phrases -- can focus players' attention and improve their performance.
