Correlates of pride in the performance success of United States athletes competing on an international stage

Abstract

Grounded in social-identity and self-categorization theories and drawing on data gathered in the US General Social Survey (N = 2528), this research examines how demographic and mediause measures associate with national pride, as experienced through the success of US athletes competing internationally. Bivariate tests and analysis of covariance models indicated greater levels of national pride among black males, older respondents, those who classified themselves as republicans and those with lower levels of formal education. Exposure to newspapers and television did not prove statistically significant in multivariate analyses, although bivariate tests revealed that those exposed most frequently to television tended to agree in significantly higher numbers with the statement 'When my country does well in international sports, it makes me proud to be an American.' Limitations and recommendations for future research are offered.As a framework guiding analyses of group attitudes and behavior, social-identity theory (Tajfel and Turner, 1986) suggests that a human tendency to categorize, coupled with a need to maintain positive self-esteem, leads individuals to perceive themselves as members of certain social groups. In the context of sport sociology, the social-identity model is useful insofar as sport is inherently competitive, and with competition may come perceived threats. According to the model, amid such threats, members of in-groups will stress their similarities relative to out-groups, with perceptions of belongingness helping to neutralize insecurity and bolster esteem. Thus, when a nation sends its best athletes to Article

Creating or awakening national pride through sporting success: A longitudinal study on macro effects in the Netherlands

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Orgulho de Ser Brasileiro Impacta o Nível de Felicidade?

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