Are Tribes Dangerous?
Understanding the Dangers of Tribal Community and How to Live Peacefully in a Divided World
From the beginning of human history tribes have shaped human life and status in different ways. They gave us belonging, safety, and identity. But in the modern world, tribal thinking can also divide and harm.
If you’ve ever felt caught between loyalty to your group and fairness to outsiders, you’ve experienced tribal tension. This article explains when tribes become dangerous, how to avoid their traps, and how to keep your mind calm — using the blank whiteboard method for mental clarity.
🔍 What Is a Tribe in Today’s World?
A tribe is any group of people connected by identity, values, or beliefs. This could mean:
- A political movement.
- A sports team fan base.
- An online hobby community.
- A religious group.
- A workplace culture.
Tribes can make life richer by offering belonging and shared purpose. But they can also create “us vs. them” walls that keep us from understanding one another.
⚠️ When Tribalism Turns Dangerous
Tribalism is loyalty to your group above truth, fairness, or kindness. When it goes too far, it can lead to:
1. Us vs. Them Mentality
Outsiders become “the enemy,” even without cause. Many times tribal members cannot accept the outsiders among their dominated land. In that case, if we move to their places, generally they will not welcome us. And this could lead the situation to suspicion conflict with tribal communities and normal citizens. This is more often in tribes of Colombia and also many tribes in India, Nepal, Bangladesh. Tribes living in south asian regions are extremely restricted with peoples outside of their tribes. They even do not welcome members of different tribes in the same region.
2. Reverberate Opinions
Members hear only opinions that agree with them. This can make beliefs more extreme and less open to challenge. This can be a big issue when you are going to ask them to collaborate or understand some new things they are not familiar with. Sometimes they get aggressive with some government decisions for tribal nations even if those are for their good.
3. Dehumanization
Some of us have a bad attitude that rural tribe members are not fully human. Many of the tribes may not get the touch of modern civilization. They harvest and make their own tools and other needings by themselves. By that way, some of us justify them so easily and divide them from the human race. This mentality can make tribal groups and us more aggressive to each other and that’s how conflicts change into violence.
📜 History’s Warnings
In history we have learned many times where tribalism turned deadly in many ways. Here we are sharing some of them we remember for various reasons.
- Tutsi Genocide: Tutsi Genocide are also known as Rwandan genocide were happend occurred from April 7th to July 19th in the year of 1994. At that time ethnic group members of Tulsi were killed by Hutu militias. Some tribal members from Hutu and Twa were also killed. In around a hundred days more than 1 million people were killed where near about 800,000 Tulsi were killed and so more extreme violence happened. Check here to learn more about Tutsi Genocide.
- European Wars of Religion: Wars of religion mainly held in the 16th and 17th centuries. It was actually a series of wars. Many countries and religious communities were connected with these wars. Different communities from Bohemia, France, Germany, Spain and the Netherlands were in serious conflict by the name of religion. Click here to know more about these wars.
- Shanti Bahini of South Asia: Shanti Bahini is considered as an insurgent group where most of the members were from a tribe called Chakma. It was an armed wing of Chittagong hill tracks in Bangladesh. From 1972 to 1997 they have killed thousands of civilians and members of the defence forces in Bangladesh. Check here for more information about Shanti Bahini.
🧠 Why We’re Wired for Tribalism
From the start of human life we have been involved in group survival. Even in modern civilization we are yet connected to different groups of people. And these groups are called friends circle, mates, neighbors and so on. In ancient times, tribal member’s loyalty was the most important thing to the tribe. The same tendency can still prompt us to react aggressively and defensively towards strangers today.
When “our side” wins, tribal relationships release dopamine and oxytocin, which increase trust within the community. This natural chemical can foster both strong friendships and heated arguments.
💡 Can Tribes Be Good?
Yes. Tribes can protect and inspire. Healthy tribes:
- Welcome different ideas.
- Allow respectful disagreement.
- Collaborate with outsiders.
The challenge is to enjoy belonging without losing independent thought.
🪞 The Blank Whiteboard Method for Mental Peace
Imagine your mind as a blank whiteboard. Every time a thought appears — anger, fear, or judgment about another group — picture yourself gently erasing it.
Clearly you are not eschewing reality. Rather, you are clearing your emotional obstacles for thinking better with a clear and calm mind.
Repeat this process often. Over time, your reactions become slower, kinder, and more thoughtful — even in heated situations.
✅ Three Practical Tips to Avoid Tribal Traps
1. Pause Before Reacting
When a headline, comment, or post makes you angry, stop. Breathe. Ask yourself:
- “Do I know this is true?”
- “Could there be another perspective?”
2. Expose Yourself to New Perspectives
- Think outside the box: To know more about the world and new perspective of life, we should search news and information not only from our known circle or the environment we are living with. But also outside of our circle and comfort zone. This might help us create new vision and find new perspectives.
- Spend time with different thinkers: Search and spend time with others who see the world a bit differently. As human psychology we are influenced by the people we are living with and around us. For that reason, if we need to get some new thoughts about life, we should make closer relationships and spend more time with people who see the world differently.
- Start questioning rather than arguing: If we see great people of history, they never argue with everything. It is not wise to make a negative thought with others’ opinion always. Rather you can ask questions to understand better. Even if you know that someone is saying it wrong, you should not argue directly. Just start questing to clear yourself or to show he or she is not correct.
3. Use the Blank Whiteboard Daily
- When tribal thoughts appear, visualize erasing them.
- Keep a small whiteboard at your desk and literally wipe it clean as a mindfulness break.
- Use the mantra: “I choose peace over division.”
🌏 Why This Matters Now
In the social media age, tribal ideas can spread faster than ever. A single post can divide millions. But calm, open-minded individuals can slow the spread of hostility.
What you do today might help to rethink other’s decisions. Your choice not to argue and ask to understand might help others to reform their thought and inspire them to modify and do the same as you do.
🏁 Final Thoughts
So, are tribes dangerous?
They can be, if loyalty turns into hostility and thinking stops. But they can also be a source of connection and support. The key is to keep your identity bigger than your tribe.
Keep your mind like a blank whiteboard. Gently erase divisive thoughts. Choose empathy instead of conflict.
Call-to-Action (CTA):
If you enjoy our article, share with your friends and others and let them know you are by the side of peace. You might start a conversation that changes both your perspectives.