The traditional American ethos, characterized by a spirit of optimism, has long defined the nation, leaving visitors impressed by Americans’ enthusiasm and hopefulness. Although most Americans today feel more pessimistic about the future and nostalgic about the past, they still often find ways to maintain their optimism.

Watch the video above as Straight Arrow News contributor Peter Zeihan explains why he believes the American ethos has been somewhat unstable over the centuries. He suggests that the country’s geography plays a key role in making Americans so complex and difficult to understand.

Excerpted from Peter’s Aug. 21 “Zeihan on Geopolitics” newsletter:

We’re going to group therapy today, and on the docket for discussion is what makes Americans so difficult to understand? Not in a weird accent kind of way, but in a “why are we the way that we are” kind of way.

Yeah, we’re all manic-depressive, but how did we end up like this? If you look back at U.S. history, there are some clues as to how we got here. The first settlers struggled with the geography of America, but soon discovered vast fertile lands once they trekked into the interior. This led to rapid economic growth and a sense of boundless opportunity (aka the American Dream), that established the national ethos of hard work will always pay off.

This overly optimistic and often unrealistic worldview in the states isn’t seen most places. Take Canada for example — the harsh landscape within Canada led to a more passive-aggressive national character. Or Australia — the barren outback meant that they had to develop strong external relationships to thrive. Each of these countries’ ethos is unique and contributes to much of the miscommunication that happens throughout the world.

The U.S. also has a quirk in which we overreact to crises. The launch of Sputnik by the Soviets led to a complete overhauling of American industry and education. 9/11 led to the U.S. asserting its power globally. This is a blessing and a curse, and you don’t know how it will end up until years down the road.

So, rules of engagement for understanding Americans, just treat us like teenage girls…

This video was recorded during Zeihan’s backpacking trip through Yosemite at the end of July.