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Do you ever wonder about why humans like to divide themselves into exclusive, insulated and increasingly smaller groups?

Especially in regards to sociopoliticial issues, though not only there. It happens in pretty much everything. The natural response of a large group forming often seems to be to break away into increasingly niche groups over time, even if the end result sabotages or contradicts their initial goal. Often paired with an outright refusal to reach out and band together to solve the problem that is faced. Do you think it's some kind of evolutionary psychological response to reduce overpopulation maybe? Like to break up tribal groups in primitive man.

And for the record I do get it, that people like having an exclusive group to belong to and call their own and that it simplifies worldview to just basically shut off outside input. It's comforting in a strange and perverse way.

I for some reason doubt this will get much if any in the way of serious responses, but whatever. Mostly just elucidating thought.
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JustNik · 51-55, F
It’s easier to be a big fish in a small pond. That’s one possibility. Add in others like comfort and belonging. The larger the crowd, the more alone and invisible you are. Just ideas. I would think there would be different paths to this same destination.
UndeadPrivateer · 31-35, M
@JustNik Not all social groups are a crowd though, lots of social structures allow for large scale collaboration while maintaining personal connection to peers. That's a bit of a false dichotomy.

The comfort and belonging, though, are touching on that evolutionary psychology bit I mentioned. [i]Why[/i] is one more comfortable and feel like they better belong in a more insular group? Why is it more comfortable to shut off the outside world than work together in it? Undoubtedly there are multiple paths that lead there, but there must be a reason it is such a common overarching theme to humanity throughout history.
JustNik · 51-55, F
@UndeadPrivateer we’re pack animals?
UndeadPrivateer · 31-35, M
@JustNik Kind-of-not-really. We don't really follow the usual social dynamics of pack animals, though we are undeniably social creatures. We invariably go insane without human interaction, but that's a very different matter.