The Power of Shared Experiences: A Sociological Perspective on Group Cohesion

After the Arab spring uprisings spread to Libya in 2011 and Muammar Gaddafi ordered his troops to fire on protesters, many ordinary Libyans took up arms and joined anti-government militias. The social anthropologist Harvey Whitehouse and his colleague Brian McQuinn, from the University of Oxford, traveled to Libya in 2011 to study this phenomenon.

Whitehouse’s research in places like Northern Ireland, Papua New Guinea, and Libya has shown the power of shared emotional experiences in creating group bonding. The principle of fusion, a feeling of oneness with a group, applies to various contexts, whether it’s fellow tribesmen, fans of Chelsea football club, or new mothers.

Whitehouse’s cognitive science of religion work has highlighted the biological intuitions and cultural traditions that underpin common religious beliefs. From the belief in demons to the formation of moral commitments, these intuitions play a significant role in shaping societies.

In his expansive book, Whitehouse argues that conformism, religiosity, and tribalism are natural biases that have shaped human history. While they have enabled cooperation and the formation of complex societies, they have also led to conflict and inequality.

As the world grapples with the climate crisis, Whitehouse suggests that harnessing these natural biases for the greater good is essential. Can we transcend tribalism and become a global ‘teratribe’ that prioritizes collective well-being over individual interests?