Tag Archives: Group membership

Why Beliefs Divide Us

Posted on June 25, 2020 by N.S. Palmer

Why do beliefs divide us? This will sound like a joke, but it’s the truth: Beliefs divide us because it’s part of their job. We usually think of beliefs simply as being about facts: Two plus two equals four. Flowers … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Society | Tagged Belief, Civil conflict, Civil religion, Dogma, Group beliefs, Group identity, Group membership, In-Group, Mass Hysteria, Mass movements, Out-Group, Race riots, Religion, Woke | 2 Comments

What We Are and What We Do

Posted on July 27, 2019 by N.S. Palmer

Would you like to join the Chess Club? It’s for people who like chess, like to talk about it, and like to play it. It’s a human group. You can be a member if you satisfy at least one of … Continue reading →

Posted in Human Relations, Life, Political Science, Psychology, Society | Tagged Common interests, Culture, Freedom of association, Gaijin, Group membership, Hafu, Human groups, In-Group, Japan, Japanese culture, Membership, Out-Group, Voluntary association | Leave a comment

Turn Strangers into Friends

Posted on July 17, 2019 by N.S. Palmer

How can strangers quickly become friends? Or at least avoid being enemies? On my way back from vacation, I passed through Miami International Airport. It’s an enormous place, so I spent a half hour walking from one terminal to another. … Continue reading →

Posted in Human Relations, Political Science, Psychology, Society | Tagged America, Group identity, Group membership, Group solidarity, In-Group, Leadership, Out-Group, Outreach, Social groups | 6 Comments

Everyone’s Welfare Counts

Posted on October 30, 2018 by N.S. Palmer

We should try to achieve the greatest good for the greatest number of people. It sounds like a pretty good idea. And it is. But it’s not the whole answer. The problem is that like lower animals, humans distinguish between … Continue reading →