In this episode, Kaiynath discusses the psychology behind the Underdog Effect and how each of us may have experienced this at some point in our lives. The making of the classic underdog is broken down and theories of as to why we all resonate so much with them are talked about.

Show notes:

- https://www.vox.com/2015/3/20/8260445/underdogs-psychology - Vox's take on the representation of the underdog in sports

- https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0146167207307488?journalCode=pspc - 'The Appeal of the Underdog,' research by Vandello et al.

- https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=7313&context=etd - 'Selling the American Dream: The Comic Underdog in Film' by Anne Glenisla Hart

- https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3898&context=etd&httpsredir=1&referer= - 'The underdog effect: Definition, limitations, and motivations. why do we support those at a competitive disadvantage?' by Nadav Goldschmeid, research investigating various theories of the Underdog Effect

In the very first episode of The Word Affairs, Kaiynath will be introducing the podcast, talking a little bit about what are the main aims of each episode and introducing herself. The affair of this week's episode is motivation! What does it mean to be motivated? And how is it linked to the concept of discipline? And of course, every episode ends with a weekly recommendation.

Some of the interesting pieces of research this episode focuses on are linked down below if you'd like to look it up later on: 

The Not Overthinking podcast's take on motivation - https://www.notoverthinking.com/episodes/a-critique-of-not-overthinking

Comparing motivation and discipline - http://www.wisdomination.com/screw-motivation-what-you-need-is-discipline/

Anas Nuur Ali - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIVGp0SVAKw

The genetic studies of genius - https://www.verywellmind.com/lewis-terman-biography-2795523