I want to share some responses. They concern a different aspect of the tribal affiliation discussion. The aspect of reality that is unpalatable is group retribution.
Look at the reward:cost ratio of taking a view different from the rest of your tribe (or in-group). Particularly in small communities, the cost of expressing viewpoints not acceptable to the rest can come with a heavy price, including being ostracized. We know a couple who moved here from a town they had lived in for decades when they refused to accept certain tenants of the church that they volunteered in for decades.
Accepting and even promulgating certain conspiracies may well be the cost of belonging. Consider the cost of the alternative. How many stories and myths do we have of the brave individual who went against the crowd? The fact that we consider that brave tells shows how it must typically have some cost.
It may well be that believing that the out-group has pedophilic cannibals (however outlandish) is less costly than breaking with your tribe.
Thanks for reading, Rich! I appreciate the thoughtful comment.
I want to share some responses. They concern a different aspect of the tribal affiliation discussion. The aspect of reality that is unpalatable is group retribution.
Look at the reward:cost ratio of taking a view different from the rest of your tribe (or in-group). Particularly in small communities, the cost of expressing viewpoints not acceptable to the rest can come with a heavy price, including being ostracized. We know a couple who moved here from a town they had lived in for decades when they refused to accept certain tenants of the church that they volunteered in for decades.
Accepting and even promulgating certain conspiracies may well be the cost of belonging. Consider the cost of the alternative. How many stories and myths do we have of the brave individual who went against the crowd? The fact that we consider that brave tells shows how it must typically have some cost.
It may well be that believing that the out-group has pedophilic cannibals (however outlandish) is less costly than breaking with your tribe.
Wow Brad. I am better off for having read this column. Thank you.