Psychoanalysis and the Spirit of Sport

This chapter examines the complexities of sports through the lens of psychoanalysis, exploring the underlying motivations that drive both athletes and fans. It contrasts sports psychology's focus on performance with psychodynamic inquiries into desires and fears, highlighting themes of excess and loss in athletic pursuit. The discussion emphasizes the emotional ties between spectators and the realities of success and failure, revealing how these dynamics inform broader societal themes of personal growth and collective experience.