Capable of unpredictable gestures, confusing dribbles or a decisive match alone, Dembélé is not precisely what can be described as regular player.
On the contrary, we could rather speak of “intermittent genius”, as far as it is concerned. But how is it defined? To understand this, we interviewed the psychologist Pascal Anger.
The paradox of Ousmane Dembélé, an intermittent genius
“”These people are geniuses, but intermittently. And somewhere, that’s good: they are not supermen“First analysis of psychologist Pascal Anger.
For Dembélé, winning the Ballon d’Or will not reward the constancy of an entire life, but the brilliance of a season.
“”A flash of genius that each of us could develop, whether in art, science or sport, if there was not a restricted societal or educational aspect “ assures our expert.
The science of “hot streaks”, periods of high creativity
This intermittent creativity has been studied by science. In 2017, Roberta Sinatra, Professor of Data Science, showed that most individuals are experiencing limited periods of intense creativity and productivity, what are called “hot streaks”.
This model therefore applies to high -level athletes, as for Ousmane Dembélé. The player can know periods of great performance, punctuated by injuries, which fuel more hollow periods.
Northwestern University researchers have also shown that very creative individuals have a loose attention filter. This allows them to integrate more information, stimulating their imagination, but also their inconstancy.
“”The artist, like the creative player, is not interested in what has already been done, but what remains to be accomplished. He leaves beaten track to show what he wants to show “ Add Pascal Anger.
A fragile but extraordinary destiny
In football, the example of Zidane is speaking for Pascal Anger: he was carried by an almost supernatural force. A decisive criterion, for the psychologist. “”In addition to having this flash of genius, you have to be able to be recognized by its peers and be carried in a way, by those around us “
The journey of Ousmane Dembélé thus illustrates this universal truth: genius is not a straight line, but a succession of peaks and hollows. Fragile, certainly, but incandescent when it lights up.
It remains to be seen whether his flashes will have been enough to convince the jury of the Ballon d’Or. Answer tonight.