Dunking for Joy

The drama that gripped the nation for 294 days was about so much more than basketball. It was a 10-month vigil to bring home an American citizen who was widely believed to be held as a political pawn.

Griner’s situation ran afoul. Instead of being ejected from a game, however, Griner was banished to a Russian work camp. Instead of spectators cheering from the bleachers, now the whole world watched as she was held up as an example, or perhaps as a warning, that politics and sports don’t always mix well.

While a medical evaluation showed that Griner was fit to return to normal life, it remains to be seen how well Griner’s spirit holds up.

 Andrew Abeyta, Rutgers–Camden assistant professor of psychology in the College of Arts and Sciences is optimistic about Griner’s future. Abeyta, who researches motivation and nostalgia, said Griner’s first steps back on the basketball court were her first steps toward rediscovering meaning in life. He believes Griner’s existential agency will help her rebound from her ordeal.

The concept of existential agency is based on neurologist and psychiatrist Viktor Frankl’s theory of logotherapy—the idea that the search for life’s meaning is the primary human motivational force. The researchers define existential agency as people’s beliefs about their ability to find, maintain, and restore meaning in their life.

“It is important for people to maintain meaning when enduring challenging life events,” said Abeyta. “Meaning motivates us to persist and not to give up, even in seemingly impossible circumstances.” 

Abeyta’s research shows that meaning in life is “like the light at the end of the tunnel.” It goes hand in hand with hope; on the other hand, when people lack purpose or view their fight as unimportant, they lose hope for their future and give up.

“It is encouraging to see Brittney return to basketball so quickly after coming home,” Abeyta said. “She likely derives meaning in life from basketball and her basketball career. Perhaps basketball was one of the things that helped her persist and maintain hope for her release.”

Abeyta’s research suggests existential agency is predictive of psychological well-being. People high in existential agency are also more driven and committed to pursuing goals.

Abeyta further noted that seeing Griner back on the basketball court is evidence of her resilience and will probably help her to return to a sense of normalcy as she adjusts to life after imprisonment. When people can find purpose in suffering, they are able to grow, get past the pain of past experiences, and build toward a positive future.

The situation may continue to haunt Griner going forward, Abeyta said, but if she is able to derive strength from inspiring others, she will be able to grow from the experience. He added that Griner was outspoken in the media prior to this event, and he is interested to see how her detainment impacts her activism.

“We may not see it right away; it may take time for her to process everything and gather strength,” Abeyta said. “However, being back on the court so quickly may be the first step.”