Response: "It takes a Tribe" by David Berreby

    A community can come in many forms, but all communities share a common denominator, the people within them share similar beliefs, traditions, behaviors or backgrounds. Often, as a part of a community, or multiple communities, we forget just why we are a part of them. The article written by Berreby answers that "why" by presenting the results of scientific analysis and relating these results to the idea of college as a community.

    As a college student, I found his explanation interesting and thought provoking. It got me to think about the reasons I picked this particular college and my behaviors as part of the Bridgewater State community and the other communities I am a part of both on and off campus. Much of what he writes, specifically about humans craving to be part of something bigger was accurate.

    One line in particular stood out to me, "Once people see that they've been divided into groups, they'll act accordingly, even if they know that the divisions are as meaningless" (Berreby,122). This statement is true, but what is it about human nature that makes actions like dividing ourselves into exclusive factions so desirable? The answer is simple, as humans we naturally think in a mob mentality. We are afraid that if we choose to form our own opinions about matters that we will be wrong. And more importantly if we are wrong, we are seen as an outsider from the groups who's popular opinion we dared challenge. No one wants to be considered an outsider, not because they are afraid of being alone, but because life actually gets more difficult to live when the resources of the group( whatever they might be) are not available to the individual. For example, if you join a sports team at BSU, you are allowed to choose your classes before non-athletes. If you are an athlete and you choose not to be on a sports team, you lose that privilege. You could be the next Olympian, but because you are not part of the official group, your academic life becomes more stressful as you struggle to get into the classes you want. Furthermore, once you become an outsider, factions will go out of their way to exploit the outsiders for challenging them, even though their motives are completely meaningless. In the case of the figurative Olympian, he/she will be cal

led selfish, stupid or strange for not wanting to use their talent on the team.

    But soon enough, for every faction formed, one that has an opposite believe of that faction will arise to challenge them. These behaviors are not exclusive to sports teams, they can apply to other faction or groups that exist in any community.