The spectacle of the Winter Olympics – American athletes achieving greatness on the world stage – often clashes sharply with the realities of U.S. domestic and foreign policy. This cognitive dissonance, where pride in national performance wars with shame over government actions, is not just a political tension; it’s a widespread psychological experience, one that therapists are increasingly seeing in their practices.
The Core Conflict
The U.S. often projects an image of freedom, opportunity, and fair play, yet simultaneously engages in practices like family separation at the border, aggressive law enforcement, and questionable foreign interventions. This contradiction creates a fundamental conflict in many Americans: how can one root for the nation’s athletes while condemning its leadership?
This is not a new dilemma. The U.S. has always struggled with reconciling its ideals with its actions. The current surge in awareness stems from increased visibility of injustices, amplified by social media and 24/7 news coverage.
How Cognitive Dissonance Manifests
Psychologists explain this tension as cognitive dissonance – the mental discomfort that arises when holding conflicting beliefs or acting in ways that contradict personal values.
- Internal Conflict: Many feel a “weird mix of excitement and discomfort” when cheering for U.S. athletes, questioning why they support the team while disagreeing with the government.
- Physical Symptoms: This dissonance can manifest physically, with symptoms like tension in the neck, digestive issues, or difficulty sleeping. The body responds to this psychological stress just as it would to any other form of conflict.
- Emotional Ambivalence: Some may even feel compelled to turn off the games to avoid further discomfort, unable to reconcile pride and shame.
The Spectrum of Experience
The intensity of this dissonance varies. Those already accustomed to systemic injustice may experience little conflict. For others, particularly those who strongly believe in American ideals, the gap between rhetoric and reality can be profoundly disturbing.
Navigating the Tension
Therapists suggest several approaches to cope with this paradox:
- Acknowledge Complexity: Embrace the fact that you can feel multiple truths simultaneously – pride in athletes, disgust with policy.
- Focus on Humanity: Shift focus from national pride to the individual athletes’ dedication and sacrifice. Cheer for the human effort, not the flag.
- Align Actions with Values: Support mutual aid campaigns or educate yourself to ease feelings of disconnect.
- Real-World Acknowledgement: As Team USA hockey player Kelly Pannek demonstrated, acknowledging injustice alongside athletic achievement is a powerful form of resistance.
“You can admire the discipline and sacrifice of the athletes, you can strongly disagree with government policy, and you can feel both pride and disgust without needing to collapse that into one ‘correct’ feeling.” – Tanisha Ranger, clinical psychologist
Ultimately, the dissonance will remain as long as the U.S. continues to act in contradiction to its stated values. This is not a problem to be “solved,” but a reality to navigate with honesty and self-awareness.
The Olympics, for many, have become a painful reminder of the nation’s internal contradictions. Acknowledging this tension is the first step toward a more honest and sustainable patriotism.
