The Psychology Behind Hating LeBron James

Since "The Decision" was announced on ESPN, many have found themselves shifting from disliking LeBron James to outright hating him.

And "hate" is a strong word.

Webster's defines "hate" as "to dislike intensely or passionately; feel extreme aversion for or extreme hostility towards; detest"

But ask yourselves this, why do we hate James?

Is it because he has shown a level of entitlement which is unprecedented? Because he spits in the face of basketball tradition and culture in aligning, rather than challenging the opposition? Or is it because he left his town and organization without a single shred of forthrightness? 

I define hate has as an unconscious feeling toward an individual that stems from our projective feelings of right and wrong.

We think that what LeBron James did was wrong. We might be quick to point out his sideline shenanigans or constant ill-advised statements when addressing the media, but what it really boils down to is our inherent feelings of right and wrong. 

America was not founded by a group of entitled, wealthy, talented individuals who decided to break away from Britain and form a bigger and better country.

America was founded by individuals who were persecuted, pushed around, and poked at. America was founded by people who were tired of getting told what to do by people that were bigger and stronger than them.

These values have not only carried over to our country, but to the psyche of what it means to be American.

We value hard work, perseverance and dedication. We believe that no matter how small or insignificant an individual might feel in the grand scheme of things, he or she always has the opportunity of unparalleled success.

We believe in people like Dirk Nowitzki, even after a laundry list of failures, because we resonate with them and the value system they represent.

We don't like the rich kid in high school who drives around in a Porsche and has Ivy League connections, because we know that he did not work for what he has, rather, he is piggybacking on the successes of his parents.

LeBron James it that rich kid.

He is the guy with all of the potential that has been told since he was 12 years old that he is bigger and better than everyone else.

He is the guy that has "The Chosen One" tattooed on his back, which is more indicative of his potential rather than his actual accomplishments.

He is the guy that seems to feel that because of his raw talent he is better than anyone else.

He is the guy that ESPN, professional analysts and critics alike have shoved down our throats claiming that he is the next Michael Jordan. 

But Michael went to college, Michael lost to Isaiah Thomas and the Pistons. No one really knew who Michael was, until he became Jordan. Michael's failures only added to his drive, his dedication and his perseverance. Michael made a name for himself, rather than being told who and what he was.

Michael resonates with our own unconscious value system of what it means to be American.

LeBron does not.

I find it ironic and somewhat prophetic that LeBron and the Heat faced the Dallas Mavericks in the Finals.

Here is a team full of athletes that have made several efforts towards championship glory, but have failed time and again. Here's a team with a 38-year-old point guard and a guy who many thought was incapable of leading a team to a championship, let alone a top-10 or -20 player of all-time. A team with an owner that Major League Baseball thought was immature and incapable of running a professional baseball team.

In many ways, the Dallas Mavericks represented what it means to be American. To work hard, to stick together, to persevere in the face of all adversity. To make it to the top without two or three superstars, rather, just one who was on a path of self-discovery combined with a roster full of players that have come up short time and time again.

For the same reasons that we hate James, we love the Dallas Mavericks, despite our allegiances to our respective teams.

Dirk and Mavericks represent the value system that is so deeply rooted in what it means to be American, that we sometimes forget.

LeBron represents everything we despise, or even, hate. Not because we are envious, hateful people, but because everything he represents diverges from what we hold right and wrong. 

It's not that we hate LeBron James, it's that we hate everything he represents as it contradicts with the morals we have all grown up with.