What 2 things must we believe to become a Fan of Man?
Friday, May 17, 2024.
The future of humanity hinges on our ability to dissolve barriers and unite to address pressing global challenges. I’ve been thinking about this notion of how we humans can acquire a transcendent bond with others who are strangers to us.
I’ve called it agape in earlier posts… but science calls it Identity fusion.
Recent research delves into the profound impact of recognizing and embracing aspects of our shared humanity in fostering global cooperation and understanding.
Remembering that we are all related and all experience many of the same challenges in life could be the key to addressing a wide range of global problems, from intergroup conflicts to extreme poverty and the climate crisis… Professor Harvey Whitehouse, Director of the Center for the Study of Social Cohesion (CSSC) and study co-author, University of Oxford.
Psychological Closeness Through Shared Humanity…
Thia compelling study reveals that reflecting on transformative experiences, like motherhood, can cultivate a sense of psychological closeness to all humanity. This finding underscores the potential for shared experiences to bridge divides and foster empathy and connection across diverse populations.
Global Identity and Political Unity…
Furthermore, acknowledging our common ancestry and embracing the idea of humanity as one large family can lead humans to be more accepting of those with differing political views. This shift in perspective holds promise for overcoming polarization and promoting collaboration on critical global issues like terrorism, climate change, poverty, and food scarcity.
Identity Fusion: A Catalyst for Prosocial Behavior…
The study illuminates the concept of 'identity fusion,' wherein shared experiences and a sense of common ancestry create a profound connection with a group. This fusion can drive folks to engage in prosocial behaviors, including increased trust, generosity, and a willingness to make sacrifices for the collective good.
Implications for Global Problem-Solving…
By nurturing a sense of global identity and emphasizing shared human experiences, we can facilitate more effective problem-solving on a global scale. This approach has far-reaching implications for education, politics, and society at large, offering a pathway to a more cohesive and cooperative world.
Mr. Lukas Reinhardt, the study’s first author, highlights the essential idea:
“Us-vs-them thinking is on the rise... Our research suggests that fostering a shared global identity could facilitate cooperation on the global level.”
Professor Harvey Whitehouse, study co-author and director of the CSSC, emphasizes:
“If we can develop far more powerful methods of motivating action on global problems in the future... we can address a wide range of global problems.”
The researchers added…“Our research, however, suggests that it is possible to foster a shared global identity which could facilitate cooperation on the global level.”
“At the CSSC we have been studying for years these two pathways to strong forms of group cohesion… but this is the first time we have shown that we can create powerful bonds uniting all of humanity.”
The future of humanity depends on dissolving barriers to solve global challenges…
A study finds that people encouraged to think about aspects of being human that they share with others feel psychologically closer to humanity at large.
When mothers think about how motherhood has transformed them, they feel closer to other mothers worldwide.
Similarly, when people consider how all humans share a common ancestry and that we are one big family, people even begin to embrace those with opposing political views.
These studies aim to encourage people to think globally, helping us tackle problems that require global solutions, such as terrorism, climate change, poverty, and food shortages.
Ultimately, more emphasis in education, politics and the world at large on what we share together can bring more unity to the world.
Here’s what we must believe…
We share many experiences..
The study used two of the most powerful ways known to group psychology to bind people together:
Shared ancestry: being related.
Shared transformative experiences: e.g. a right of passage or experiencing a natural disaster together.
When people go through these experiences together or feel more relaxed, they experience an ‘identity fusion.’
This sense of fusion, experienced as a oneness with the group, can motivate prosocial behaviors, such as higher trust and generosity towards others and even sacrificing oneself for the group.
Essentially, these are two ways to make people less selfish and more connected to those they have never met and may even hate.
We are all related…
For their experiments, which included over 1,000 participants, the researchers used both of these methods of influencing people to feel connected to others.
In one experiment, participants watched a video of journalist A. J. Jacobs explaining that all humans share a common ancestry. The results showed that after watching the video, people felt a closer social bond with humanity at large than a control group who had not.
The earth is but one country and mankind its citizens. Baha’u’llah
Final thoughts
In a world fraught with division and discord, recognizing and embracing our shared humanity offers a beacon of hope.
Let’s celebrate our interconnectedness and our shared human experience so we can forge a path toward a more compassionate, united, and resilient global community.
Be Well, Stay Kind, and Godspeed.
REFERENCES:
Reinhardt, L., & Whitehouse, H. (2024). Dissolving Barriers: The Transformative Power of Shared Humanity in Addressing Global Challenges. Royal Society Open Science.
