Blog Entry 4- Trash Talk

Throughout history trash talking has gone hand in hand with various competitive events.  Anyone who watches sports or has played them will tell you that the art of trash talking is a very real and very alive issue.  There is no denying that trash talking exists.  However, what is debatable are the reasons behind the blatant use of put-downs in competitions.  These reasons range from gaining a simple strategic advantage to expressing complete hate.

• Strategy:  The strategic use of trash talk in order to get “under your opponents skin” is the more appealing of its uses.  Instances such as Muhammad Ali winking at his opponents and Babe Ruth verbally intimidating the pitcher are perfect examples of strategic trash talk.  While strategic trash talking has certainly been proven time and time again, sports psychologist Johnathan Katz believes it may have the adverse effect.  He says that too much energy and concentration is used trying to think of ways to put down your opponent.  That energy could be used to better the actual player in the competition.
• Hate:  This is the ugly side of trash talking.  This is often seeded through anger, humiliation, and fear.  It serves the purpose of possibly intimidating the opponent, but is usually just an avenue for one to express their true feelings.  An example of this was when Jack Johnson became the first black world heavyweight champion.  He was challenged by Jack Jeffries who proceeded to trash talk Jack Johnson based solely on racial tensions at the time.

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Citations:

Silverman, J. (1999).  The Art of Trash Talk.  Psychology Today.  Retrieved from http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/199909/the-art-trash-talk 

MereDictum (2010).  Psychology of Trash Talk: Fear, Strategy or Hate.  Low Kick.  Retrieved from http://www.lowkick.com/UFC/The-Psychology-of-Trash-Talk-Fear-Strategy-or-Hatred-6778