Strength in naughty or nice (Harvard Gazette)

An interesting article: research confirms that those who believe themselves good, or bad, are more effective and enjoy greater endurance.

“People perceive those who do good and evil to have more efficacy, more
willpower, and less sensitivity to discomfort. By perceiving themselves
as good or evil, people embody these perceptions, actually becoming more
capable of physical endurance,” says researcher Kurt Gray, a doctoral
student in psychology at Harvard."

Testimony to the power of belief, and more tellingly the power of the expectations by others on our performance.

Peer-group pressure, expectation of loved ones, friends, society all influence our behaviours. Hence the 'home-side advantage' in sports.