User:WesDig11/Boomerang effect (psychology)

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Mental Health Impact of COVID-19:

Since the onset of the global pandemic, COVID-19, there has been a noticeable increase in awareness surrounding mental health. An article from Mike Ryan at BCC stated that, "But what it does mean is that the vast majority of the world remains at risk. We know the pandemic will continue to evolve but we also know we have the tools that work to suppress transmission and save lives right now and they are at our disposal." People's mental stability and strength have been something psychologists and family members have taken very seriously over the past couple of years. The pandemic has especially affected individuals in high-stress professions, such as nursing. A 2020 study revealed that depressed nurses exhibited lower levels of reaction compared to their calmer counterparts, emphasizing the importance of addressing the mental well-being of healthcare professionals. Another study done in 2021 examines the anxiety disorders due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The article found that the need for up-to-date information on the mental health impacts of COVID-19 is imperative. They stated, "In this study, we aimed to quantify the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the prevalence and burden of major depressive disorder and anxiety disorders globally in 2020." This underscores the broader conclusion that the mental health of those in demanding occupations, like nursing and medicine, is at a higher risk due to the challenging nature of their work.

Sports and Mental Health:

Mental health plays into the sports field more now than ever before, with more awareness around concussions and other major injuries that have gained more attention. The National Library of Medicine formed an article of multiple studies showing the impact of mental health within sports. There were many takeaways from this article but the section on training was influential. "Physical training is concentrated towards increasing maximum performance and capacity. On the other hand, physical inactivity is a sedentary behavior in which body movement is absent. Physical inactivity leads to increased risk of poor health, which can affect the well-being of an individual." Sports organizations have used the new mental health issues to increase the attention on player well-being. For example, the WWE, if there is a serious collision, WWE doctors will stop the match, something that did not happen just a few years ago. A notable contact sport athlete, Ronda Rousey talked about the WWE and their stoppages. Rousey went on to say, "Nikki Bella gave me an open-hand slap [in the days leading up to the match] and I was seeing stars, and I had a headache for the rest of the day," This led to their match being cut short because of the injury.

The most notably being the NFL, and how they have implemented an enhanced concussion protocol to address the long-term effects of head injuries. Examples like Antonio Brown are a good example of how mental health and sports go hand and hand. In 2019 Brown told ESPN that, “If I had CTE I wouldn’t be able to have this beautiful gym, I wouldn’t be able to be creative. I wouldn’t be able to communicate. I’m perfectly fine.” A study done by the Concussion Institution showed that Brown could be suffering from a more serious does of CTE. "Those comments illustrate a fundamental misunderstanding of CTE. Later stage CTE (stage 3 and 4) is associated with dementia, but early-stage CTE (stage 1 and 2) is more associated with what is called neurobehavioral dysregulation, which includes violent, impulsive, or explosive behavior, inappropriate behavior, aggression, rage, “short fuse,” and lack of behavioral control." Brown’s life-changing experience on the field highlights the potential mental health consequences of sustained physical impact, prompting a broader discussion about mental health within the sports community. All of this shows how prominent mental health has become within sports.

Role of Sports in Society:

Sports has a profound impact on society and transcending mere entertainment. Major events like the Super Bowl have become significant income generators. An article published by Virgina Tech stated that, "“The Super Bowl may not be the most gambled-on sporting event, but it is a significant time for sports betting. Last year, approximately 50 million gamblers collectively wagered an estimated $16 billion on the game, with roughly 1 in 5 Americans participating in some form." The ability of sports to provide an escape, especially during challenging times like the COVID-19 pandemic, is evident. The concept of a sports "bubble," where rigorous protocols allow for competition in a controlled environment, played a role in positively affecting both fans and players' mental health. The bubble had multiple aspects that were not just basketball driven. The University of Michigan was quoted saying, "The Bubble provided the NBA with a unique marketing opportunity of highlighting its tight-knit community to the rest of the world. By giving players, the ability to have social justice messages written on the back of their jerseys, the Bubble became synonymous with calls for social and political reform. This fostered a sense of community within the Bubble, which the NBA utilized to bolster its brand image." This bubble is where the athletes and coaches were tested every day and had to follow the multiple protocols involved with COVID-19, just to be able to play. Sports coming back impacted the fans and players mental health for the better. Everyone won, especially when the fans were allowed to come back and support their teams or favorite organizations. Coming to the conclusion, how is the boomerang effect influential throughout sport?

Sports and Social Movements:

The death of George Floyd triggered a global movement, particularly in the Black Lives Matter (BLM) community, influencing the sports world significantly. Major sports organizations, including the NBA, NHL , and NFL , responded by taking action to support players and organizations advocating for racial equality. This led to a platform for athletes, especially those of color, to voice their concerns and contribute to the broader conversation on racial injustice. This brings questions to the NFL and how they are responding to the players and organizations actions and how much freedom they are given to express how they feel about this topic. Knowing all of this about the NFL, the amount of attention that was brought towards the Black Lives Matter movement was fascinating. An example would be all the slogans, quotes, symbols, etc. that the players wear on the back of their shirts, helmets, on their shoes and more. These real-life situations tie back to Jack Brehm and his discovery of the boomerang effect. Brehm's original study involved two toys. These toys were different in shape and size but similar in color. Children were given the freedom to choose whatever toy they would like to have. Any amount of freedom can produce negativity and influence the effect on people. Therefore, Brehm founded the boomerang effect.

Boomerang Effect in Sports Organizations:

The boomerang effect, as observed in Jack Brehm's theory, raised questions about its presence within sports organizations. Colin Kaepernick's decision to kneel during the national anthem as a form of protest for the Black Lives Matter movement serves as a pivotal example. The boomerang effect is when someone is trying to be persuaded to do a specific action, but they decide to do the complete opposite of the action they were trying to be persuaded to do. At the time of the incident there was a lot of unrightful killing of people of color and black people were not getting the same opportunities. Kaepernick's decision changed how sports organizations and everyday people view the ongoing movement. Kaepernick's goal was to bring awareness and to show the actions that sparked a movement within sports, with more players and associations joining in support over time, and despite the initial backlash, changed the way people look at social movements. There was a lot of backlashes from some NFL fans, but as time went on more and more players started to take a knee for the anthem. Other major associations such as the NBA and NHL, saw how much of an impact Kaepernick's decision was, and also began to promote the Black Lives Matter movement. Kaepernick took the original step by taking a knee and for all purposes sacrificed himself to begin a movement. As stated above, athletes were hesitant at first to take a knee and protest because of the fear of losing their job or getting fined. As time went on the entire NFL and other associations began to take a stand for their players and the unjust treatment going on in the world. This highlights how a seemingly controversial action can lead to a broader positive impact, challenging the conventional norms within sports organizations.