Any psychology buffs wanna take a stab?

#26
#26
No psychology needed here. It's simple like anything that you find joy in whether it's your family, your home...or the Vols. These things are a part of your life and you love them even if they are overweight, in a state of disrepair...or not playing well.
 
#27
#27
I think sometimes, at least with me, I feel like we are going to get killed in a game, but then when the game starts, I start to feel like, hey, maybe we can play with these guys after all. especially when we start out playing pretty good.
 
#30
#30
Fandom is by its nature irrational (in fact humans operate mostly on irrationality despite our pretenses otherwise and regardless of what the subject might be). The same irrational hope often happens to those who constitute what we might term diehard "negavols." The only time it doesn't happen is when you've truly quit watching football or a fandom. And even the most pessimistic among us still watch the games on tv.

Those who don't watch til the end are often the most susceptible to the sucky emotions of losing. Hence, the attempt to be so negative that you find yourself attacking fellow fans for even expressing a slight glimmer of hope. Pessimists don't want to catch the 'hope' bug for fear of being let down. It's a matter of emotional self-preservation. And though it's hard to be hopeful even if you're an optimist in general, it's difficult not to have the game time experience you describe even if you temper expectations or go into thinking we're gonna lose.

There's a reason that according to myth, Hope was trapped in Pandora's Box and it was the release of Hope from this trap that was considered such a curse to humans.
 
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#31
#31
calban said:
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.
Click to expand...

There's clinics and stuff for that...
 
#32
#32
I think it's because we are watching the games and when positive things happen we start to recondition our expectations. I.E. when we scored on Oregon and they missed the FG, our minds started to tell us we had a chance. Then when it falls apart it is more disappointing. Think about it this way, if you didn't watch the game Saturday then found out UGA beat us 38-17 then your reaction would be minimal disappoint and some feeling of "that's about what I expected". But when you start the game tied and possibly even take the lead early, then it becomes much more difficult to watch the game slip away over the next 3 hours.
 
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#33
#33
Fighting Possum said:
I think it's because we are watching the games and when positive things happen we start to recondition our expectations. I.E. when we scored on Oregon and they missed the FG, our minds started to tell us we had a chance. Then when it falls apart it is more disappointing. Think about it this way, if you didn't watch the game Saturday then found out UGA beat us 38-17 then your reaction would be minimal disappoint and some feeling of "that's about what I expected". But when you start the game tied and possibly even take the lead early, then it becomes much more difficult to watch the game slip away over the next 3 hours.
Click to expand...

Best answer I've read. Nice insight. Makes a lot of sense when you think about it like that
 
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#34
#34
UTProf said:
Fandom is by its nature irrational (in fact humans operate mostly on irrationality despite our pretenses otherwise and regardless of what the subject might be). The same irrational hope often happens to those who constitute what we might term diehard "negavols." The only time it doesn't happen is when you've truly quit watching football or a fandom. And even the most pessimistic among us still watch the games on tv.

Those who don't watch til the end are often the most susceptible to the sucky emotions of losing. Hence, the attempt to be so negative that you find yourself attacking fellow fans for even expressing a slight glimmer of hope. Pessimists don't want to catch the 'hope' bug for fear of being let down. It's a matter of emotional self-preservation. And though it's hard to be hopeful even if you're an optimist in general, it's difficult not to have the game time experience you describe even if you temper expectations or go into thinking we're gonna lose.

There's a reason that according to myth, Hope was trapped in Pandora's Box and it was the release of Hope from this trap that was considered such a curse to humans.
Click to expand...

Another great response. Another great insight. Thank you guys for putting so much thought into my OP
 
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