Evolutionary perspective on prejudice against outsiders
From Wikinfo
- For criticism see Criticism of Evolutionary_perspective_on_prejudice_against_outsiders
The two closest relatives of Homo sapiens are the Common Chimpanzee, pan troglodites and the Bonobo Pan paniscus. Ethologists have many times observed groups of common chimpanzees invade the territories of neighbouring chimpazees. If they come across isolated individuals of the neighbouring group the neighbouring chimps may be attacked and injured or killed. Males do this most frequently but both sexes can join in. Regrettably this is natural behaviour for common chimpanzees. Bonobos do not do this.
Prejudice against outsiders appears to be natural for humans as well. It probably has been part of our nature since before our ancestors evolved to be different from the ancestors of both types of chimpanzee. Prejudice is frequently irrational. Race and nationality are only two sources of prejudice. There can be any number of different reasons for considering people outsiders. Marxism treats the Proletariat of all races and nations as the inside group. Capitalists, Feudal Aristocrats and workers who reject Marxism are outsiders. Prejudice against outsiders exists but is not based on race or nation. A more trivial example is that Wikinfos tend to see Wikipedians as outsiders Also the Wikipedians look down on the Wikinfos. There are even cases when race becomes irrelevant and members of different races are considered members of particular community.
Note. We do not have to behave like common chimpanzees. Humans have more self control. We can also choose to behave more like bonobos.
Chimpanzees are outsiders.
