Answer to Question #277139 in History for Kelsey Jand

Question

Why do humans so often divide themselves into “we” and “they”?

What examples from Portugal help you answer that question?

Answer 1

By the time we become adults we have a greater appreciation of the categorical distinctions between us. We have been taught, through the education system and the people around us, that people belong to different groups, and that these different groups are intractable and unchangeable. It is therefore not too surprising that when we meet people we immediately define them by their; race, occupation, hobby, income, demographic and personality. By having pre-existing categories in our back pocket, we can “already tell” if we’re going to get along with them: all we have to do is judge the ‘category’ they belong to, and compare it to our own. If they belong to our own category, we’re more likely to become friends with them.

The reason why we’re more likely to become friends with people in our own ‘category’ is founded in the social psychological principle: “Similarities Attract”. The evidence shows there is a broad psychological tendency for us to associate more with those who are similar to us, rather than those who are dissimilar.The Portuguese people are a Romance nation and ethnic group indigenous to Portugal who share a common Portuguese culture, ancestry and language.