If It’s “Just a Game,” Why Do So Many Lives Depend on It? Identity, Culture, and the Psychology of Sport

Presented by Matthew Thadeio, LMHC-A

8:30-9:00am - Registration and Buffet Breakfast

9:00am-12:00pm - 3 hour Presentation

Description

Sports are never “just a game.” For athletes, performance is more than competition…it’s identity, purpose, and, in many cases, survival. This session challenges the way we see athletes and performance, exploring the complex intersection of identity, culture, and mental health.

Through real-world stories and cross-cultural perspectives, participants will examine the forces that shape athletes…from the Dominican Republic, where baseball is an economic lifeline fueled by relentless repetition, to Japan, where the disciplined, patient, and methodical approach known as “Samurai Baseball” reflects a cultural devotion to precision, harmony, and collective identity.