Any psychology buffs wanna take a stab?

[peyton4heisman]

I was hoping to get a littile insight into the psychology behind this phenomenon:

In recent years, with our team being down, my expectations have become more and more modest. Example: GA. In 2009 I thought our chances were 50/50, 2010 40/60, 2011 30/70, 2012 20/80, this year 10/90.

Having said that and logically speaking, I do not expect my Vols to win these games. All week I try to keep my expectations low and tell myself that we will most likely lose, so to expect it; a win would just be a bonus.

But on game day, when the ball is kicked off the tee, all of that logic goes right out the window. I get mad when we go 3 and out, when we turn the ball over, when our d can't get off the field, and when we lose. Clearly I'm not the only one, judging by all of the insane threads that show up after every expected loss.

So, psychology buffs, what gives?

 

[Orange And Garnet]

Your pride and love for the orange shows up when the ball kicks off. No matter what is expected we all know anything can happen within that 60 minutes and until it's obvious we won't win we are like this. All games start tied at 0-0

 

[deckerkd]

I was hoping to get a littile insight into the psychology behind this phenomenon:

In recent years, with our team being down, my expectations have become more and more modest. Example: GA. In 2009 I thought our chances were 50/50, 2010 40/60, 2011 30/70, 2012 20/80, this year 10/90.

Having said that and logically speaking, I do not expect my Vols to win these games. All week I try to keep my expectations low and tell myself that we will most likely lose, so to expect it; a win would just be a bonus.

But on game day, when the ball is kicked off the tee, all of that logic goes right out the window. I get mad when we go 3 and out, when we turn the ball over, when our d can't get off the field, and when we lose. Clearly I'm not the only one, judging by all of the insane threads that show up after every expected loss.

So, psychology buffs, what gives?

There is no real psychology behind this my friend. You simply have orange blood.

 

[DC Vol]

You're delusional because delusions of grandeur are all we have right now.

Not being negative, that's just the realistic truth.

We're 5-7, 7-6, 6-7, 5-7, 5-7 over the last 5 years and we're staring at 6-6 at best this year with the potential to barely above .500 next year.

That's 7 straight years of mediocre football. Yet, we still are watching it. Even though our rivals are winning 10+ games every year and winning national championships, we watch it.

Because there is something special about UT, the orange, the checkerboards, Neyland, etc. We don't want to face a reality and want to believe that anything can happen on any given saturday... even if we know it hasn't happened for us in the last ~5 years and we know it is a enormously improbable chance of happening.

It could happen. So we wait.

 

[IluvdoubleD's]

This is more of a physics problem. All possible outcomes exist until a measurement is taken. Shrodinger's cat.

 

[calban]

Bathe yourself in pessimism.
Expect the worst every game.
Then every TD and even a win like Saturday's is a first cig early morning Marlboro high.

 

[VolLee]

You've bought in. You're invested. You can't help but feel connected to the outcome.

It's like the person that has invested in a lottery ticket. He or she understands the odds and has realistic expectations, but when the number is being called out, there's always hope and then some degree of disappointment.

It is impossible to care about something and not be affected by it.

 

[YankeeVol]

Fa·nat·ic

n.
A person marked or motivated by an extreme, unreasoning enthusiasm, as for a cause.

marked by excessive enthusiasm and often intense uncritical devotion

 

[peyton4heisman]

Fa·nat·ic

n.
A person marked or motivated by an extreme, unreasoning enthusiasm, as for a cause.

Haha Yank, never really read the definition of fanatic before. All great answers

 

[Majorvol23]

well you've come to the right place my friend- Volnation is full of psych majors ha

Although the likelihood of winning may be slim, there is still always hope. If there is hope, there can ultimately be disappointment if the hope is shattered by an ass whippin'

We're all fans, and when the hope is gone, pain ensues

 

[thebjd]

I thought all of the psych grads were out occupying Wall Street

 

[orangeluvr]

We are crazy like every CFB fan base. :crazy: :crazy:

 

[Chilmonty]

There is no real psychology behind this my friend. You simply have orange blood.

^This! You have a "blood" disease. Do NOT get a transfusion though, you can't get it all out!


.

 

[DD4ME]

This is more of a physics problem. All possible outcomes exist until a measurement is taken. Shrodinger's cat.

Can I kick said cat?

 

[orangeblooded2]

Once you start on the kool-Aid stay on it! 4-5 year detox period. Yep sounds about right.

 

[rickyb712]

I was hoping to get a littile insight into the psychology behind this phenomenon:

In recent years, with our team being down, my expectations have become more and more modest. Example: GA. In 2009 I thought our chances were 50/50, 2010 40/60, 2011 30/70, 2012 20/80, this year 10/90.

Having said that and logically speaking, I do not expect my Vols to win these games. All week I try to keep my expectations low and tell myself that we will most likely lose, so to expect it; a win would just be a bonus.

But on game day, when the ball is kicked off the tee, all of that logic goes right out the window. I get mad when we go 3 and out, when we turn the ball over, when our d can't get off the field, and when we lose. Clearly I'm not the only one, judging by all of the insane threads that show up after every expected loss.

So, psychology buffs, what gives?

you are a sports fan and love your vols.

 

[johnw]

The great thing about football! Once the ball is kicked off a weeks worth of talk, predictions, polls, pundits, prognostication all goes out the window!!! Anything is possible!

 

[Spartacavolus]

because it's game day. Not practice man. Game. Day.

 

[Rudy123]

You're delusional because delusions of grandeur are all we have right now.

Not being negative, that's just the realistic truth.

We're 5-7, 7-6, 6-7, 5-7, 5-7 over the last 5 years and we're staring at 6-6 at best this year with the potential to barely above .500 next year.

That's 7 straight years of mediocre football. Yet, we still are watching it. Even though our rivals are winning 10+ games every year and winning national championships, we watch it.

Because there is something special about UT, the orange, the checkerboards, Neyland, etc. We don't want to face a reality and want to believe that anything can happen on any given saturday... even if we know it hasn't happened for us in the last ~5 years and we know it is a enormously improbable chance of happening.

It could happen. So we wait.

Of course it could happen. App. State beat Michigan (Lloyd Carr) Wyoming beat Tennessee ( Phil Fulmer) Kentucky beat Alabama ( Mike Shula) UAB beat LSU (Nick Saban) U.L. Monroe beat Alabama (Nick Saban)

 

[PACKERVOL]

well you've come to the right place my friend- Volnation is full of psych majors ha

Although the likelihood of winning may be slim, there is still always hope. If there is hope, there can ultimately be disappointment if the hope is shattered by an ass whippin'

We're all fans, and when the hope is gone, pain ensues

And even a few psychotics.

 

[Panthro]

There is no spoon.

 

[Orange to the Bay]

There is no real psychology behind this my friend. You simply have orange blood.

I was a Psych major. This is true. Orange blood. You can *not expect a win, but it's not like you're not going to *root. You want them to play well, hard, give their all. You can expect a loss, but they're still your favorite team. It's not delusion. It's devotion & passion, & love, man.

If that is a crime, then lock me up. I expected a loss vs. Oregon, but was still pissed about how we played.

 

[rockytop114]

You're delusional because delusions of grandeur are all we have right now.

Not being negative, that's just the realistic truth.

We're 5-7, 7-6, 6-7, 5-7, 5-7 over the last 5 years and we're staring at 6-6 at best this year with the potential to barely above .500 next year.

That's 7 straight years of mediocre football. Yet, we still are watching it. Even though our rivals are winning 10+ games every year and winning national championships, we watch it.

Because there is something special about UT, the orange, the checkerboards, Neyland, etc. We don't want to face a reality and want to believe that anything can happen on any given saturday... even if we know it hasn't happened for us in the last ~5 years and we know it is a enormously improbable chance of happening.

It could happen. So we wait.

wow i must be in denial i didnt know

 

[IBlvNTmWrk]

It's actually a fairly common phenomenon, though usually observed in the opposite form. You may know of it from it's medical name of hotgirlsyndrome.

A common example involves a guy spotting a hot girl on the dance floor. He formalizes his strategy for approaching her and asking her if she'd like to dance. It's all clear in his head, he has his opening line rehearsed and ready to deliver, and he's confident in making his move. Then he gets up close to her and for some reason he can't talk, so he reverts to plan B...

 

[Gramps]

Here is you some psychology.
We sux and have since 2005.