Identity - Tribalism

Being part of something bigger than yourself is a hugely comforting feeling. It provides structure to your life. It imparts some level of identity as well. It is a major factor in why gangs and terrorist organizations ability to recruit. When they give a clear message of what it means to be part of their tribe to youth who are lost and floating it is magnetic.

Being part of a tribe isn't all bad despite my examples above. The reason that appeal is so strong is because of the importance and value there is in community and purpose. I've posted about both all of these topics previously. They are important, and when you don't have them your life loses a lot of its luster.

To go back to the negative side though there is an element of being part of a tribe that is dangerous. You can get sucked into the tribal identity and lose your sense of personal values. An example of this that I have seen recently is people on the political right being criticized by others on the right for criticizing Donald Trump. The Trump critics bring up points and the defenders attack the critics identity of being conservative or whatever.

This is an example of succumbing to tribal identity. Basically the Trump defenders are saying that it is more important to maintain tribal unity than it is to recognize the faults of members of the tribe. Even so far as revoking membership.

This is a problem for the tribe in question. Any tribe that exists is built upon certain principles. For those on the political right or conservative end of the spectrum that means, at least in part, individual freedom, minimal government, fiscal responsibility, and generally conservative ethical stances. It is pretty easy to see that Mr. Trump does not ascribe to all of those things very closely. I don't think he is a bad guy, but you are going to have to argue really hard to convince me that he is a small government guy. So his membership in the "conservative tribe" is not as strong as it could be.

So when conservatives attack people for critiquing Trump for areas where he is a little weak on it is at the cost of losing the tribes entire identity. Holding on to a leader no matter his actions is dangerous for everyone involved. It takes away the group identity that the members joined for and it removes accountability for leadership to stick with it.

So be in a tribe. Stay there and fight to keep the identity true to its core. Even if it means criticizing dear leader.