The Anecdote to Loneliness
One of my favorite nights since moving to Greenville happened this past Saturday at a crowded local brewery surrounded by strangers watching the Knicks win the NBA Championship. As someone who is by no means fluent in sports, this may come as a surprise to those who know me. The truth is, it wasn't really about the Knicks or even basketball. It was about being part of something bigger than myself.
There are few moments where life slows down long enough for people to experience something together in a positive way. The game itself wasn't what stayed with me. It was the feeling in the room—the anticipation, celebration, and shared excitement among people. Psychologists have a name for this phenomenon: collective effervescence.
Sociologist Émile Durkheim first described collective effervescence as "a process of synchronization and intensification of emotions among individuals that occurs during participation in collective rituals" (Pizarro et al., 2022). In simple terms, it refers to the energy and connection people experience when they come together around a shared purpose or event.
We see it in churches, concerts, sporting events, graduation ceremonies, political rallies, and even Taylor Swift's Eras Tour. It isn't necessarily profound in the moment, but it is deeply unifying. Most of us know what it feels like to share an electric experience with others that no one outside of that moment will fully understand in the same way.
Personally, I love the concept of collective effervescence. Some of my favorite memories involve being surrounded by complete strangers who were all gathered for the same purpose. The moments before a marathon begins. Walking through a city when your college team is playing a rival. Even New York City often makes me feel this way. Millions of people are living entirely different lives, yet there are moments when everyone's paths seem to intersect, creating something bigger than any one individual experience.
Beyond being fascinating from a psychological perspective, collective effervescence reminds us of something important: humans are wired for connection. In a world that can feel increasingly divided, it is comforting to know there are still experiences that bring us together. We may disagree on countless things, but most of us understand the feeling of being swept up in a shared moment of excitement, joy, grief, pride, or hope.
Maybe that is why these experiences stay with us. Whether it is a marathon starting line, a packed concert, a church service, or a championship game, collective effervescence reminds us that we were never meant to experience life entirely alone. While individualism offers freedom and independence, it can also pull us away from opportunities for meaningful connection. Balance is something I aspire to in every area of life, and the Knicks' big win served as a reminder that sometimes the moments we remember most are the ones we share with others.
