• I’ve been interested in the link, if there is one, between codependency in relationships against mental fortitude during physical activity. For example, I feel like I show a few codependency attributes in my personal relationships. And in the gym I notice I do so much better with a gym buddy. Such as on bench press I was getting 7 reps on my own, but when I had a spotter I got 12 reps. While others have done better with no spotter. Could there be a link between these?

  • It appears there aren't specific discussions on the direct link between codependency and performance in physical activities within the available data. However, we can touch upon related psychological and physiological factors based on Andrew Huberman's general insights.

    Psychological Factors in Physical Performance

    Andrew Huberman often discusses how psychological states and social factors can significantly influence physical performance. For instance:

    • Social Facilitation: The presence of others can enhance performance in many activities. This mirrors what you experience with a spotter during bench press, likely due to increased motivation, reduced fear of failure, or a higher level of arousal and focus.
    • Mental Fortitude and Support: Having a supportive figure can bolster mental resilience, improving performance. Feeling supported can reduce anxiety and increase confidence, which might explain why you perform better with a gym buddy.

    Codependency and Mental Fortitude

    While codependency involves reliance on others for self-worth and decision-making, physical activity performance might be more about the positive aspects of social support rather than the potentially negative traits of codependency.

    • Intrinsic vs Extrinsic Motivation: Individuals often perform better when motivated by external factors, like a partner’s encouragement, rather than relying solely on internal motivation.

    Summary

    Your experience underscores the complex interplay between social dynamics and physical performance. While Andrew Huberman does not specifically discuss codependency in this context, his insights on social facilitation and mental fortitude might explain the observed benefits of having a gym buddy during workouts. This relationship seems more aligned with positive social support rather than the negative aspects of codependency.

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