Stop to Reset

How Susceptible Are You to Tribalism Today?

Take The Scale

The Science Behind It

Humans are drawn to groups. We all prefer to belong to groups that accept and engage with us to some degree. Our survival as a species depended on our capacity to come together in groups to find food, shelter, and defend ourselves against threats. Most of us meet these basic needs through affiliations with family, friends, workplaces, or religious organizations. But recently, our trust in one another and our religious and business institutions has plummeted, leaving many of us feeling isolated, excluded, and alone. This isolation creates fertile soil for us to become attracted to more extreme political groups that offer a clear, vivid sense of meaning and belonging with messages like, "You are special, underappreciated, and under threat." If you feel drawn to such groups today, ask why - are they preying on your loneliness?

Please Explain That to Me

The Science Behind It

Research shows that simply asking people to explain their understanding of divisive issues can open them up. People invited to discuss (rather than freely discuss) topics they felt strongly about tended to show more open-minded reasoning and reported more positive feelings toward their conversation partner.

One of the main reasons is that explanations tend to keep the discussion focused on cause-and-effect mechanisms rather than moralistic arguments, which tends to induce in the explainer a sense of distance from the topic, and they will tend to be more cautious about their claims and reflect a bit more on what they're saying.