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Harming the ‘outgroup’ linked to elevated activity in the brain reward circuitry

neurosciencenews.com

31–40 of 128 posts

Re: Harming the ‘outgroup’ linked to elevated activity in the brain reward circuitry

#31
post #9

> The researchers had 35 male college students complete a competitive, aggressive task against either a student from their university or from what they were told was a rival university. Male college students, an “aggressive task”, and a rival university. College students are literally trained to associate out-competing rival universities as a fun and desirable activity. It’s the entire foundation of sports programs.…

>College students are literally trained to associate out-competing rival universities as a fun and desirable activity. This was not my experience in undergrad, literally at all. No idea where this comes from

I was referring to college sports programs, which are a huge deal in the United States (where this study took place).

Pick 35 random male college students and you will get a lot of college sports fans.

Re: Harming the ‘outgroup’ linked to elevated activity in the brain reward circuitry

#32
post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>College students are literally trained to associate out-competing rival universities as a fun and desirable activity. This was not my experience in undergrad, literally at all. No idea where this comes from

Were you in college in the US, or somewhere else? It may be more prevalent in the US, dunno. Just based on observations of US sports and cheerleader culture.

It's not universal among U.S. college students either. I went to a Div3 top-tier (academically) liberal arts college, and most people were oblivious to how our sports teams did, unless you were on the team or close friends with someone who was. Probably because we lost a large percentage of the time.

The sports culture is much more relevant at Div1 schools. These get a disproportionate amount of air time (at least as far as sports go), but that's largely because those are the schools where sporting matches are worth watching.

Re: Harming the ‘outgroup’ linked to elevated activity in the brain reward circuitry

#33
post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>College students are literally trained to associate out-competing rival universities as a fun and desirable activity. This was not my experience in undergrad, literally at all. No idea where this comes from

Were you in college in the US, or somewhere else? It may be more prevalent in the US, dunno. Just based on observations of US sports and cheerleader culture.

[deleted]

Re: Harming the ‘outgroup’ linked to elevated activity in the brain reward circuitry

#34
post #11

Each individual person is liable to become a "them" once one asserts one's individuality from the group identity. Group coalitions that do not respect individuality often fall prey to base emotions as they collectively punish individual identities. Individual creators are largely responsible for the actual work, new ideas, innovations, things... The feedback loop described in the OP creates groupthink, politically co…

Quoted post unavailable.

Something things you might want to consider. as this article points out human brains evolved to push the individual to identify with a group and be hostile to other groups because it improved fitness. Through most of human existence this group survival pressure outweighed objective rational perception of reality . Political parties often tap into this in group out group emotional connection. While I agree that Republican Party logic is often weak and often emotional, I would argue that the Democratic Party is as well, just on different issues.

Re: Harming the ‘outgroup’ linked to elevated activity in the brain reward circuitry

#35
post #6

This reminds me of Girard's idea that Christianity (and others I'm sure) was effective because it showed things from the victim's point of view. I'm not making the claim that it fixed everything, but it's an interesting idea nonetheless.

I dont see how it fixed anything related to harming the outgroup when popular interpretations and outcomes involved massive harming of outgroups It seems the same behaviors exist in the absence and presence of that religion

> It seems the same behaviors exist in the absence and presence of that religion

Right, just humans doing their thing and twisting literally anything to justify their pursuit of power. Christianity not necessary.

But there's something to be said for a set of values that emphasizes love, empathy, and reciprocity, regardless of the religion.

Re: Harming the ‘outgroup’ linked to elevated activity in the brain reward circuitry

#36
post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Anecdotally, my wife’s school (UNC) had a rival (Duke). Temple That’s not weird or exceptional. There’s long Wikipedia article about rivalries between universities: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_college_rivalries_in_t...

Is that something that's just cultural in the community or is it something explicitly taught by university orientation/course work?

Those campuses are seeped in that rivarly. You'll hear chants, speeches, etc. It's a tradition.

Re: Harming the ‘outgroup’ linked to elevated activity in the brain reward circuitry

#37
post #11

Each individual person is liable to become a "them" once one asserts one's individuality from the group identity. Group coalitions that do not respect individuality often fall prey to base emotions as they collectively punish individual identities. Individual creators are largely responsible for the actual work, new ideas, innovations, things... The feedback loop described in the OP creates groupthink, politically co…

Quoted post unavailable.

Something thing you might want to consider. as this article points out human brains evolved to push the individual to identify with a group and be hostile to other groups because it improved fitness. Through most of human existence this group survival pressure outweighed objective rational perception of reality . Political parties often tap into this in group out group emotional connection. While I agree that Republican Party logic is often weak and often emotional, I would argue that the Democratic Party is as well, just on different issues.

Another thing to think about is that by attacking an “out group” (I assume you’re not a republican) in this post you are potentially showing the behavior described in the article.

Edit- grammer

Re: Harming the ‘outgroup’ linked to elevated activity in the brain reward circuitry

#38
post #5
post #3

> The findings raise the possibility that one day treatments that disrupt the reward of intergroup aggression might help to reduce the costly and persistent human phenomenon of violence toward other groups A little G-23 Paxilon Hydrochlorate should clear that right up!

我想昧耳,昧心,变石头

Could you kind explain, provide the best translation, and reveal if that was a cultural reference?

Re: Harming the ‘outgroup’ linked to elevated activity in the brain reward circuitry

#39
post #36
post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is that something that's just cultural in the community or is it something explicitly taught by university orientation/course work?

Those campuses are seeped in that rivarly. You'll hear chants, speeches, etc. It's a tradition.

No post body was provided.

Re: Harming the ‘outgroup’ linked to elevated activity in the brain reward circuitry

#40

This reminds me of Girard's idea that Christianity (and others I'm sure) was effective because it showed things from the victim's point of view. I'm not making the claim that it fixed everything, but it's an interesting idea nonetheless.

No post body was provided.
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