Placebo Steroids for the Win ?

Thinking through the framework of placebo is a good way to analyze this situation. 

The idea of placebo, particularly in this situation is called "active placebo" (M, p.32)in that the belief that one athlete had that the dirty socks brought on good luck is what ultimately led to that athletes outstanding performance in the second game thus their success in winning the game. 

The key here is the payers belief. The other boy that, unlike, the aforementioned athlete, did not have the belief that they would win the second game (as they were aware of the fact that their dirty socks from the winning game was washed ) experienced just that, an unbelievable loss. 

Its quite interesting the degree to which ones mental state can influence their physiology, in this case athleticism.

it is important to realize that the empirical win of the first boy who championed the second game with the dirty socks was specifically not due to the socks being dirty, but again the belief he held in the luck these socks would bring him in the game.  Evidently the clean socks, worn by the other boy, did not lead to a loss, however the players lack of belief in winning the game without wearing the dirty socks is what led to such.

It would be interesting to observe the results in an experimental setting. A blind study where some participants receive steroids while others receive none, participants are blind to who is administered drug and who is not. Prior to experiment they are primed about sports performance and steroid use in a popular media story that has received mass attention on steroid use and athletic performance. This happens to be the favourite sport of all the participants (quantitative data gathered in the selection process of selecting participants). 

How would the results in the experimental research differ from that of the real world instance of the dirty socks ?

Would athletes perform with more confidence due to their "positive illusion" (M, p.34) and thus become more likely to outperform their competing team or would they underperform relying on the enhancement effect of the drug to achieve their win? 

Would it be ethical to use the placebo in this situation ? 

Would this be an appropriate setting to analyze placebo ? Explain 

Placebo steroids for the win or a big ethical loss ? 


By: Cherise 


Moghaddem,F. M. (2005). Great ideas in Psychology: A Cultural and Historical Introduction. Oxford: Oneworld Publication.