August 2, 2021
How Does Spectator Support Impact the Olympics?
Jennifer Talarico
Jennifer Talarico, professor of psychology and department head, spoke with the Associated Press about the impact of live fan interaction on athletic events, most notably the Olympic Games, currently being held in Tokyo.
“There’s a reason sitcoms have laugh tracks,” Talarico shared. “Seeing and hearing other people enjoy a thing leads us to enjoy that thing.”
Talarico, a cognitive psychologist who studies how people remember personally experienced events, is frequently interviewed by the Associated Press. Earlier this year, she discussed why commemorating the end of the pandemic will be important, how the pandemic has shifted how people mark important life milestones. In January, she talked about looking back at the year 2020. In July 2020, she offered insights about the conflicting emotions surrounding Independence Day.
