An interesting concept in psychology is “perceptual contrast,” which is defined as follows: when we see two things in sequence that are different from one another, we will tend to see the second one as more different from the first than it actually is. Retailers are very familiar with this idea, as evidenced by how nearly every item is “marked down” from the original price to a much lower price, resulting in the perceptual experience of a big contrast (and super savings!). For example, an item “marked down” to $19.99 from $69.99 appears to be a great saving (and therefore a more desirable item) when compared to a second item marked down to $19.99 from $24.99. Quite often what is around something gives the object greater (or different) meaning, resulting in different perceptual experiences.So how does this idea play out in sports, you might ask? Well, for successful coaches who have consistently set the bar high by consistently winning in the past by developing successful team cohesion and team chemistry, the “contrast” that occurs is often quite dramatic after just a few losses: fans become agitated about how the program is seemingly crumbling! It certainly appears that the more success a coach has, the less room for error when a loss occurs (or a semi-mediocre season for that matter).On the other hand, when the bar is not set so high, expectations are usually much lower, resulting in more “wiggle room” when it comes to on-field success. The thinking is that if you are just a so-so program, then winning is unexpected and when it does occur it’s viewed as a bonus.My point to this article is to take a closer look at how we perceive things (in this case, coaches) and to remember that our perceptions do not take place in a vacuum —- instead, we perceive the world through various filters, including how something is doing currently compared to the past. If the contrast is stark, the margin for error is usually thin, often resulting is negative criticism, greater scrutiny, coach burnout, and often the loss of a job if you are a coach.So is this way of thinking and perceiving “fair?” Probably not – especially for coaches who feel on the hot seat every year when being “successful” simply isn’t good enough. But this is the reality, and most coaches do realize these kinds of expectations exist in successful sport environments. Now after reading this article you know the “science” behind why we fans act in the ways that we do when appraising coaches!
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