For sports fans around the world, the Olympics are a time to watch their favorite athletes at their best. But for the non-sports minded, choosing what to watch and who to root for can be a bit more ambiguous.

This leads one to wonder: why do we root for the people that we do? And what does that tell us about ourselves?

For a look at the psychology behind our cheers, Take Two spoke to Edward Hirt, professor of social psychology at Indiana University Bloomington, specializing in fanship.

Press the blue play button above to hear the full interview.