In this book, the authors present current research in the study of the psychology of both performance and defeat. Topics discussed include the self-defeating dynamics of aesthetic and existential self-determination; the role of attention in skilled athletic performance; the effects of positive emotions on creative performance; how neuroticism moderates the short- and long-term effects of avoidance versus approach goals on performance; reinforcing older adults' performance in volunteer participation; and the role of cues and stimulus valency in task sequence learning.