Movie Reaction Paper 1-3 pages:

15 pts

BE SURE TO DO ALL THREE PARTS!

PART I: (no more than 1 page)

            In class we discussed the Over-Justification Hypothesis and went over a study that illustrated this

concept (the kids and the drawing station study).  Please explain the three parts of the OJH and then connect the movie (Searching for Bobby Fischer) to each part of this Hypothesis. Be sure to tell me if you think the movie supports or undermines the OJH.

PART II:  DEEP THOUGHT QUESTION (no more than 2 pages)

Choose one (1) of the thought questions below and write out your response.

            A. In the movie, Bruce tells Josh that he has to have contempt for his opponents, that it is a key aspect of

winning.  Do you agree?  Is it harder to compete against and beat someone you like than it is someone you dislike?  Does it help your performance if you hate your opponent? (Try to relate to specific experiences you have had)

B. If sports function as socializing agents, what do you think young kids are learning from modern day

sports and athletes?  Are athletes role models?  Why or why not? Who is a favorite professional athlete

of yours? Why this person? Is there a different message that kids are learning from male versus female

athletes?  From athletes that play on teams vs playing individual sports? What message do you think it

sends that the Olympics no longer restrict participation to amateurs?

C. If you are, or maybe someday your child is, extremely gifted, would you want for yourself or your

child to give up everything to pursue that talent to its fullest ability (possibly missing out on much of

childhood)?  If yes, why? If no, why not? Is money, fame, success worth losing a childhood for? Why or

why not? What do you think the impact of having one highly gifted family member is on the rest of the

family (parents, kids, siblings, etc)

PART III: MOVIE THOUGHTS: (Be Brief - no more than 1 page)

Choose one (1) of the thought questions below and write out your response.

1. Discuss your reaction to Bruce’s quote, “To put a child in a position to care about winning and not to

prepare him is wrong.”

2. Who is the better teacher, Vinny or Bruce? Why? Who is the better motivator? Why?

3. What are your thoughts on the following quote from Josh: “Maybe it’s better not to

be the best. Then you can lose and it’s OK”. (Is it easier to be the underdog? Would you prefer to be

ranked #1 in a tournament? Have you ever been afraid of winning?)

4. Discuss the motivational implications of the following exchange between Josh’s mom and dad:

Mom: “He’s not afraid of losing, he’s afraid of losing your love.  How many ballplayers grow up afraid

of losing their father’s love every time they come to the plate?

Dad: “All of them!”

5. Discuss the scene in which Josh’s dad is talking to him out in the rain.  What is the dad trying to

do?  What do you think of Josh’s reaction?