Academia

What is optimisation?

At Spartans, we define optimisation as follows: when the external reality matches the individual's internal subjective experience and goals. The graph has two axes. Subjective well-being is how a person feels about themselves and their emotional, mental and physical well-being. The other axis is their external reality—their alignment between their hoped-for and experienced life. Optimisation, the goal Spartans has for its members, is when a positive emotional state matches a positive external reality. When the subjective experience and external reality are both positive, a person is on the road to optimisation

vxupv2026-04-06T03:10:24+00:00June 15th, 2022|Academia, Performance, Psychology, Sports|

Trauma and boxing – An interesting pairing

Trauma can deeply impact a person’s mental well-being, often leading to anxiety, depression, and social withdrawal. While therapy and medical support remain central to recovery, growing research shows that exercise can play a powerful complementary role. Boxing, as a high-intensity and skill-based activity, helps redirect focus, release built-up stress, and rebuild a sense of control. In a supportive community environment, it can become a meaningful pathway toward healing and resilience.

vxupv2026-04-06T03:10:18+00:00April 2nd, 2022|Academia, Psychology, Sports|

Progression and Avoiding the Choke

References Beilock, S. (2010). Choke: What the secrets of the brain reveal about getting it right when you have to. Simon and Schuster. Csikszentmihalyi, M., & Csikzentmihaly, M. (1990). Flow: The psychology of optimal experience (Vol. 1990). New York: Harper & Row.

vxupv2026-04-06T03:10:13+00:00February 17th, 2022|Academia, Psychology, Sports|

Studies you should know: Machine-based personnel selection promises a lot but without a solid foundation

A study by D. Goretzko and L. Finja Israel on the pitfalls of machine learning-based personnel selection, published in the Journal of Personnel Psychology.

vxupv2021-11-23T13:17:10+00:00November 1st, 2021|Academia, Psychology|

Studies you should know: A balanced approach to mindfulness

A study by E. Choi, J. A. Gruman, and C. M. Leonard explores a balanced view of mindfulness at work, published in Organizational Psychology Review.

vxupv2021-11-23T13:18:03+00:00October 15th, 2021|Academia, Psychology|

Studies you should know: Like most things in psychology, free time follows a similar idea

A study by M. Sharif, C. Mogilner, and H. Hershfield on time and subjective wellbeing, published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.

vxupv2021-11-23T13:22:44+00:00September 29th, 2021|Academia, Psychology|

Studies you should know: The benefits of a psychologically rich life

A study by S. Oishi and E. Westgate on happiness, meaning, and a psychologically rich life, published in Psychological Review.

vxupv2021-11-23T13:26:01+00:00August 14th, 2021|Academia, Psychology|

Studies You Should Know: Implicit Association Test

Meissner, F., Grigutsch, L.A., Koranyi, N., Müller, F., & Rothermund, K. (2019). Predicting behavior with implicit measures: Disillusioning findings, reasonable explanations, and

vxupv2021-03-26T08:01:04+00:00January 28th, 2021|Academia, Psychology|

Studies You Should Know: Understanding Personality

Quirin, M., Robinson, M. D., Rauthmann, J. F., Kuhl, J., Read, S. J., Tops, M., & DeYoung, C. G. (2020). The dynamics

vxupv2021-03-26T08:06:44+00:00January 5th, 2021|Academia, Psychology|

Studies You Should Know: Growth Mindset

In the discipline of Industrial and Organisational Psychology, there is a revolution going on. Critiques of old studies are as part of

vxupv2021-03-26T08:01:54+00:00July 26th, 2020|Academia, Psychology|