Why do I react so viscerally to sporting events? And why do I think I can change the outcome by how I gesture?

Question

or scream at the screen?

Answer 1

You are too competitive and are hanging on the outcome in an overly obsessive manner. It's only a game, remember. Jules, Australia.

Answer 2

Interestingly enough, there have been studies about this. Scientists have concluded that watching an action produces brain activity similar to actually doing the activity. In other words, if you are "caught up" in a sporting event, your brain is actually participating in the game. Your "body english" is part of that as well. Of course, since you aren't actually doing the activity, your muscles don't get the workout. "Monkey see, monkey do" really does have some basis in fact. Here's a link to the "Nova Now" PBS series story on your question: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sciencenow/3204/01.html