UConn Project Studies Effectiveness Of Sports Trash Talk

STORRS, CT — One of the first studies to "statistically show the specific effects of trash talk on competitive performance" has been tackled by a University of Connecticut research project, school officials said.

The study is titled: "Emotional manipulation and cognitive distraction as strategy: The effects of verbal insults on motivation and performance in a competitive setting."

By definition, UConn researchers said the purpose of trash talk during competition is "to cause a loss of focus by elevating emotion to the point of distracting an opponent and decreasing their performance." Few studies have been done to determine whether trash talk does affect competitive performance, they said.

The ability of trash talk to negatively affect the game performance of a competitor was confirmed using a test model comprised of a racing video game played under controlled conditions by 200 men and women ages 18 to 35, with some hearing verbally aggressive insults and some who did not during their competition.

Karen C.P. McDermott conducted the research while completing her doctoral degree in Communication at UConn. She's a former high school volleyball player who competed in leagues and tournaments regularly for many years and said there is little scientific inquiry into why trash talk is used and how it affects its intended target.

She noted that while sports psychology is used to assist athletes when they perform, it primarily focuses on self-actualizing, or visualizing a successful outcome in competition rather than preparing for verbal attacks.

"We always think of sports as being very physical games but they are absolutely mental games," McDermott said. "Plenty of coaches will tell you to get your head in the game because having that mental edge and being mentally focused is incredibly important, especially in sports that require hand-eye coordination. There’s always that mental component and trash talk is another form of offense that athletes have to play defense against."

McDermott said the study aims to provide the first step toward "a more nuanced and expanded exploration of the emotional and psychological effects of trash talk as a component in a competitive context."

For more information on the project go to UConn Today.