#34: Us vs. Them

Adding an extra dose of behavioral science to your week with our series In a Nutshell— a collection of behavioral science principles, explained in 150 words or less, written weekly by CUBIC director Allison Zelkowitz.

Think for a second – which groups do YOU belong to?

Are you conservative or progressive? Are you religious or not? What state or province are you from? Do you have a favorite hobby or sports team?

Human beings love to categorize things – including ourselves. Social Identity Theory explains that our self-identities are based in part on the groups we associate with, and we tend to behave in ways that are aligned with these groups. Unfortunately, to boost self-esteem, members of an “in-group” tend to seek negative aspects of an “out-group.” This “in-group bias” is an underlying cause of racism, conflict, and polarization – as well as the politicization of immigration laws and vaccination in some countries.

While group allegiances and divisions have existed for millennia, research has shown at least two ways to bridge gaps: by fostering interaction between groups, and by promoting a person’s self-interest over that of their group.