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Take Two

Who you root for in the Olympics this year might reveal a lot about you

United States' Simone Biles bites her gold medal for the artistic gymnastics women's individual all-around final at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016
United States' Simone Biles bites her gold medal for the artistic gymnastics women's individual all-around final at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
(
Dmitri Lovetsky/AP
)

Take Two translates the day’s headlines for Southern California, making sense of the news and cultural events that affect our lives. Produced by Southern California Public Radio and broadcast from October 2012 – June 2021. Hosted by A Martinez.

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Who you root for in the Olympics this year might reveal a lot about you

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.