Psychology Today50%
The International Language of Love 78%
By Suzie Pileggi Pawelski0% MAPP0% James Pawelski0% Ph.D.29%
7/14/2026, 4:24:26 PM
BS Summary: This article contains 29 faulty reasoning types, including Biased Writer Voice, Appeal to Authority, and Appeal to Emotion, with Optimism Bias as the most egregious example at 33.9% saturation with 300 hits. Analysis detected 2,287 faulty-reasoning hits from 884 analyzed words, generating a BS Score of 70.1% and a BS Rank of 78% (3,945 of 17,334 articles). This article is worse (more manipulative) than 77.20% of the article peer group.
Too often, we focus on what divides us rather than what connects us.
Yet amid the noise of today’s headlines, we recently witnessed something profoundly hopeful: Croatian and Ghanaian fans singing, cheering, and celebrating together as if they had known one other for years.
Attending the World Cup match in Philadelphia reminded us that sports can be a powerful catalyst for connection, belonging, and joy.
We were struck by the kindness of the fans.
This spirit continued throughout the entire game.
Everyone was respectful, regardless of which team they were supporting.
After the game, we captured a spontaneous moment on our iPhone that touched our hearts.
Croatian fans were beating a drum when a woman in a Ghana jersey walked over and joined in.
Soon, everyone was dancing.
A few Croatian fans lifted her into the air as the crowd cheered.
It was pure joy.
We shared the video on Instagram with the caption “There’s nothing like soccer that brings people together.
International language of love.”
Less than 24 hours later, the 10-second clip had received nearly 200,000 views.
We think the reason is simple: human beings are social creatures who long for moments of connection.
While close relationships are integral to our well-being, what we may not realize is that even momentary interactions with others can benefit us physically and psychologically.
Research in positive psychology helps explain why that moment resonated so deeply.
## The Power of Momentary Connection
**Co-experienced Positive Emotions**.
Positive emotions are one of the five pillars of a thriving life, according to Martin Seligman, the founder of positive psychology.
Psychologist Barbara Fredrickson’s groundbreaking research has shown that positive emotions don’t just feel good—they’re also good for us.
They can boost our health, broaden our minds, and help us connect with others.
More recently, Fredrickson has found that co-experienced positive emotions—those we share with others—can amplify these benefits and strengthen our social bonds.
Even brief moments of shared joy can have a meaningful impact.
**Positivity is Contagious.
**Positive emotions, like negative ones, are contagious.
At the game, positivity spread rapidly.
We couldn’t help but smile, sing, cheer, and talk to strangers.
And it wasn’t just the extroverts.
Even people who typically keep to themselves seemed swept up by the electric energy of the crowd and felt compelled to connect.
Research supports this phenomenon, showing that our emotions can spread easily to others and even impact their future moods and performance.
**Collective Effervescence**.
Sociologist Émile Durkheim coined the term collective effervescence to describe the energy and unity experienced by people when they gather for a shared purpose.
We lose ourselves—in a good way—and feel part of something larger than ourselves.
When we move together and sing in unison, our emotions and actions synchronize, strengthening our bonds with one another.
A recent 2026 study published in *Frontiers in Psychology* exploring stadium experiences and sports fandom found that the sights, sounds, rhythms and shared movement of a crowd—can help fans become more attuned to one another.
In other words, the stadium itself can help fans tune in to one another and get into the zone together.
Psychologist Dacher Keltner, founding director of the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley, suggests that collective effervescence is more than a pleasurable experience; it may be a survival mechanism.
Crowds that experience it become more cooperative, trusting, and more willing to work together for the greater good.
Research also suggests that participating in shared activities—from group exercise classes to rituals and sporting events—can improve our health, even lowering inflammatory markers.
Perhaps most encouraging about the 2026 study is that the benefits weren’t limited to who won the match.
Whether our team wins or loses, gathering with others for the love of the game can still cultivate belonging, connection, and joy.
No wonder we all felt so good during and after the match.
More than 65,000 fans packed into the stadium to cheer on Croatia and Ghana.
They waved flags and sang in unison.
It didn’t matter what country you were from or which team you supported.
No longer strangers, we all bonded—in the parking lot before the match, in the stadium, and long after the final whistle.
The celebration continued on the subway and in the streets on the way home.
Regardless of the jerseys we were wearing, we all felt part of something meaningful.
For one night, at least, problems and polarization seemed to fade away.
In the end, our social connections matter.
Flourishing friendships are essential.
But even brief moments of authentic connection can boost our mood, improve our health, and remind us of our shared humanity.
While there is no single antidote to loneliness, perhaps we should all spend a little more time getting out of our heads and homes—and into our hearts and stadiums— to connect with others through a shared love of the game.
And even if we can’t attend in person, we can still share in the joy by gathering in public places, such as our local parks, to watch a match with others.
Even if our team doesn’t win, it’s still a win for all of us.
We will have the opportunity to connect over a shared interest, learn about one another’s cultures, and experience collective joy.
Different flags.
Different cultures.
One beautiful game.
Analysis
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