The Emotional Game - Pride

  Pride and football go pretty much hand in hand. When a team is performing well, winning games, cups , and trophies the team and manager exhibit typical signs of pride. Even fans, which have had nothing really to do with the winning performances also exhibit this pride, though that is an abstract concept which will take far more than a 300 word blog to explore, just how do fans take pride in something they haven't really contributed to? This group morality, and extended self of a football fan, attributing the success of something with which they have no tangible relation is really a very interesting part of psychology, almost acting like a new religion, or form of social identity. Also perhaps the forms of pride differ between fans and the team members? Perhaps in a similar way to Hubristic vs Authentic pride?

To demonstrate this, a few pictures of fans of BVB Dortmund, recognized as one of the world's proudest and most vocal football teams, especially at the moment as they are experiencing a period of above average period of success, which included beating Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid, regarded as one of the world's best teams, over 2 legs.

 These pictures again demonstrate the findings of Tracy, Robins & Lagattuta, 2005, that there is a cross culturally recognized gesture  of pride, or perhaps elation and self conscious emotions in general.  Especially when compared with below, the Juventus football team from Italy, and the Brazil national team, both culturally very different, celebrating winning tournaments.

Fixing Fernando

As suggested by Tracy & Robins, 2004, Authentic pride can facilitate increase in self-esteem. As stated in the introduction, various pundits have come out and declared Fernando Torres' lack of form is because he lacks confidence, (http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/1034921/di-matteo:-fernando-torres-lacking-confidence?cc=5739) which is also related to low self esteem. If it is possible to increase his authentic pride from performing well, it may in turn increase his self-esteem, which in turn increases his confidence, the attribute pundits seem to suggest he needs. Especially for a striker, Authentic pride, pride in what they can do is very important. It could however be argued for some footballers, hubristic pride and even arrogance are beneficial, as long as it is channeled correctly and it doesn't have detrimental effects on the team. And this gives me the excuse to post one of my favourite goals.  You could argue that to even attempt this shot in the .gif below requires a level of hubristic pride and arrogance, but when you are capable of it, it is a great sight.

And a clearer video;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xh_KNH8QqSw