There is something about humans that tends to orient us toward rooting for the underdog. Somehow, the person with the least power becomes the person we assume is more right. The fewer advantages someone has, the more virtuous they must be. The less power they possess, the more likely we are to view them as a victim
We might suspect this isn’t necessarily true, but on some level, most of us can’t help but root for the underdog. Years of movies and novels have conditioned us to see the world this way.
After all, who is going to write a story about someone who has everything going for them? Where’s the conflict in that? Where’s the drama?
Just imagine: The scene opens and we fade into a luxury living room with a warm and loving families playing board-games while eating takeout. No one argues. Everyone’s kind to each other. And they have lots of dogs around, which is the most important part. Credits roll.
If we see someone making all the right decisions, we think: Alright, good for them. And …
