The tribal mind and the psychology of collective delusions

Le résumé fourni par la source

The universal human tendency to think and act in ways that promote tribal cooperation appears to be an inevitable part of the human condition and the source of much of our evolutionary success. This chapter reviews evidence for the ubiquitous human propensity for collectivism and the consequences of our tribal nature for our personal lives, our relationships, and for society and politics at large. Although tribalism is an essential evolutionary feature of human nature, it is often in conflict with the Enlightenment assumptions of individualism, liberty, and universal humanism that inform our contemporary liberal democratic systems. The historical change from tribalism to individualism is discussed, and convergent evidence about the nature and consequences of tribalism from evolutionary psychology, experimental social psychology, cognitive psychology, and neuropsychology are reviewed. The importance of tribal narratives often promoting consensual delusions overshadowing reality is considered. The consequences of the recent growth of tribalism in politics and public life are discussed. Finally, the chapter reviews the contributions to the book organised into four topic areas dealing with (1) the nature and origins of tribalism, (2) the psychological mechanisms of tribalism, (3) how tribal narratives dominate rationality and reality, and (4) the role of tribalism in politics and public affairs.

Ce résumé expose les affirmations des auteurs. BNTIC ne l’interprète pas comme une validation indépendante des résultats.