Tribal Psychology

 

"The world is shaped with medieval minds and modern capacities" 

Today, the world is shaped with medieval information and modern capacities which is dangerous for the future world. Tajfel's research examines the social identity theory, which basically states that when we define ourselves, we often assert our loyalty to the groups we belong to. His experiments have shown that humans can quickly engage in us-versus-them thinking, often in a matter of seconds, and they can do so over virtually anything.

According to social identity theory, people tend to form groups easily, and once they do, their individual identity becomes intertwined with their group memberships. As a result, they may view people outside of their groups, as inferior in some way. This is a critical aspect of the theory. As conflicts between groups intensify, it becomes increasingly difficult for individuals to see their competitors as individuals with positive qualities, flaws, and unique characteristics. Instead, they may simply categorize others as "us" versus "them," leading to a breakdown in communication and understanding.

Indeed, the term "them" can be a potent and divisive word. Research in psychology and neuroscience suggests that due to the significant influence of group loyalty on our identities, thinking in terms of "us versus them" is an inherent characteristic of the human brain. When this mindset is triggered or stimulated, it can evoke a tribalistic response that is deeply ingrained in our psychology. It is a natural and primal response, and it is not necessarily anyone's fault, but rather a product of how our brains are wired. Understanding this aspect of human psychology can shed light on why conflicts between groups often arise and how they can be addressed in a more constructive manner.

Tajfel's research on prejudice in the 1950s challenged the prevailing assumptions in social psychology at that time, which suggested that intergroup conflicts and aggression were primarily driven by aggressive personalities, struggles for power, historical conflicts over land, or perceived grievances.

Tajfel's social identity theory proposed that intergroup prejudice and conflict could arise from the mere categorization of people into different groups, leading to a sense of "us versus them" and a subsequent tendency to favor one's own group while derogating or discriminating against other groups. This categorization could be based on various factors such as race, religion, nationality, or other social identities.

His research highlighted that intergroup conflicts and prejudice were not solely determined by individual personality traits or historical grievances, but rather could be influenced by social and cognitive processes related to group identification and categorization. This helped to explain how ordinary individuals, who may not have inherent aggressive personalities or direct conflicts with another group, could still engage in acts of discrimination, prejudice, and even genocide against another group based on their social identities.

His work sheds light on the complex and multifaceted nature of intergroup conflicts and the role of social cognition in shaping attitudes and behaviors towards other groups. It highlighted that group dynamics, social identities, and cognitive processes play crucial roles in the perpetuation of prejudice and intergroup conflicts, going beyond simplistic explanations based solely on individual personality traits or historical grievances.