Tribalism
Tribalism alters our thoughts. Show older people a negative image of the aged, and they act more feeble. Asian women reminded of their Asian heritage did better on a math test than those who were reminded they were women. In a small room, the lone holdout against a group’s opinion usually gives in and changes.
It also affects our health. People’s sense of their status directly links to measures of stress, depression, and cholesterol levels.