is tribalism, or more generally the tendency to segragate us from them, a genetic trait?
ChatGPT said:
The tendency to divide the world into “us” and “them” — which includes tribalism, in-group favoritism, and out-group bias — does have biological roots, but it’s not purely genetic or fixed. It’s more accurate to say that:
1. It’s an evolved tendency, not a hardwired trait.
Humans evolved in small, tightly bonded groups where cooperation within the group increased survival, while suspicion of outsiders often protected against threats. This created cognitive biases favoring:
- In-group loyalty
- Out-group suspicion
- Reciprocity among group members
These tendencies are not genetic traits like eye color, but they are emergent behaviors rooted in how our brains evolved to process social information.
2. Genetic predispositions influence, but don’t determine, behavior.
Some aspects of social behavior (like empathy, aggression, fear response) do have genetic components, and these can shape how strongly someone reacts to “us vs. them” cues. But:
- Environment (culture, upbringing, trauma, education) plays a huge role.
- For example, children can be taught to expand their in-group (e.g., national identity, multiculturalism).
- Or they can be taught rigid group boundaries (e.g., racism, extreme nationalism).
3. Psychological experiments show how flexible this tendency is.
Classic studies like Tajfel’s minimal group paradigm show that people will form in-groups and discriminate against out-groups even when the group distinction is arbitrary (e.g., being told you prefer painting A vs. painting B).
This suggests the us-vs-them dynamic is easy to trigger, even without deep differences.
Summary:
- The tendency to separate into groups is evolutionarily ingrained, not genetically fixed.
- It likely evolved as a social survival mechanism.
- It’s highly plastic — shaped by culture, environment, and context.
- With awareness and effort, it can be resisted or redirected.