The Psychology Behind "Us" and "They": How We Talk About Our Sports?Teams

Ever noticed how die-hard sports fans talk about their teams? When the team clinches an exhilarating win, it’s all about “We did it!” or “We played great.” Conversely, when the same team falters and trudges off the field in defeat, suddenly it becomes “They lost” or “They messed up.” Why do we switch from a collective “us” to a distant “they” based on the outcome? It turns out, there’s some fascinating psychology at play here.

The Deep Bond with Our?Teams

Before diving into the linguistics, it’s important to understand the depth of the bond fans have with their favorite sports teams. For many, supporting a team is not just about watching a game; it’s an identity. Whether it’s donning team colors, mimicking chants, or flaunting memorabilia, being a fan is an integral part of who they are.

Psychologists call this deep affiliation Basking in Reflected Glory (BIRGing). When our team wins, we experience a boost in self-esteem as if we were part of the victory. It’s akin to sharing the glory of a friend who just won an award; their success feels somewhat personal because of our close association. From a psychological standpoint, winning fans often say “we” because they genuinely feel like they contributed to the victory.

Us vs. Them: The?Shift

It’s all cozy and inclusive when teams are winning, but what happens when they drop the ball? Here’s where the term Cutting Off Reflected Failure (CORFing) comes into play. When the team loses, we quickly distance ourselves to protect our self-esteem. Hence, the swift shift to “they” happens almost instinctively. It’s no longer a collective heartbreak; it’s “their” fault, not “ours.”

This shift happens subconsciously for most people. After all, no one wants to associate with failure. Particularly in sports, where emotional investments are high, detaching from the losing team becomes a coping mechanism.

Tribalism in Modern?Times

From prehistoric times, humans have thrived in tribes and communities. Modern sports fandom is a contemporary take on this tribal instinct. Supporting a team helps you identify with a group?—?in other words, a modern tribe. When “our” tribe wins, our collective status gets elevated. Conversely, when the tribe loses, our status takes a hit. And who likes that?

Mirroring these tribal dynamics is why we see such furious loyalty among sports fans. It’s us against them, winners and losers. In the end, the usage of “us” and “they” becomes a convenient way to navigate tribal affiliations while safeguarding our psyche.

Cognitive Dissonance: Balancing Loyalty and Performance

Enter Cognitive Dissonance?—?the mental discomfort one feels when holding two contradictory beliefs. Suppose you are a staunch supporter of a team, and they perform poorly. You love the team, but hate the outcomes. This creates an internal conflict.

Switching from “we” to “they” helps navigate this cognitive dissonance. You still support the team (and maintain your identity as a fan) while rationalizing the defeat as someone else’s problem. It’s an elegant mental tango that keeps your loyalty intact without causing too much angst.

Social Identity Theory and Self-Esteem

For many fans, their favorite team becomes a key aspect of their social identity. This falls in line with Social Identity Theory?—?a framework stating that a person’s self-concept is derived from perceived membership in social groups. When “our” team wins, it enhances our self-image, leading to higher levels of self-esteem.

Conversely, associating with a failing team dents our sense of social identity. Quickly switching pronouns from “us” to “they” is a form of psychological self-defense. It shields our social identity and preserves our overall self-esteem by distancing ourselves from the negative outcome.

Language and Emotional Buffering

Words serve not only as a medium of communication but also as tools for emotional regulation. Using “they” when a team loses acts as a linguistic buffer zone. This little change in language minimizes the emotional impact, turning what could be a personal affront into an external event. By repositioning ourselves linguistically, we also reposition ourselves emotionally.

The Media’s?Role

Media personalities often mirror this linguistic shift, further reinforcing how fans perceive their relationship with the team. Analysts on TV and radio might say “the team” when discussing a loss but refer to “us” in times of victory. This reinforces the psychological narrative that success is a collective phenomenon while failure is an outgroup issue.

The Long-Term Perspective

But what about those die-hard fans who stick with “us” through thick and thin? From a psychological perspective, these individuals may have what is termed as Unconditional Association?—?where the emotional bond with the team is so strong that failures are seen as temporary setbacks rather than significant defeats. These fans have an unwavering sense of “us,” reflecting profound loyalty and possibly a more forgiving self-esteem dynamic.

Wrapping It?Up

So, the next time you find yourself shifting from “we” when your team wins to “they” when the score doesn’t favor you, know that you’re not alone. This subtle linguistic change is deeply rooted in human psychology. It’s part of the complex dance between our self-esteem, social identity, cognitive dissonance, and emotional well-being.

In the grand scheme of things, how we talk about our sports teams offers a window into understanding how we navigate success and failure in our lives. So go ahead, wear that team jersey with pride?—?even if you switch pronouns when the going gets tough. After all, being a fan is as much about the journey as it is about the destination.