Human evolution is based on differences, not on equality. This leads to development of different qualities that drives us to make our identity.
Humans have developed two identities:
· Personal Identity
· Social Identity
Personal identities are things like I’m a female/father/husband/single etc.
Social identities is where humans assume a common identity to come together and form cohesion. Social identity is an old as humans and allows humans to fit in their immediate society. It can range from I’m Hindu, I’m fan of Salman Khan, I’m bhakt of Shiva, I’m promoter of Tamil, Feminist, animal lovers, environment saviors,etc.
By this social identity, we form our own personality. People’s social identity helps human that they belongs and becomes pride/core of their persona. People like to visibly display their affiliation to their social identity through headgears to beard to clothes to ring to uniform to greetings etc.
Its not surprising people attack others when questioned about god or religion or country or leaders, as to them it feels more like a personal attack. They can’t differentiate between their personal and social identity. Brands also acts on this principle of social identity. You don’t buy iPhone. You buy a membership in club of people who use iPhone. Apple thus feels more like a cult than a product.
Things we are proud of are nothing but levers that others can use to offend us. What we are proud of, defines us. We anchor our identity to this and defend it like our honor. Jokes made on people who proudly write CA before their name, will most likely upset them. Same goes for people's profile picture, it's nothing but the key to know how people consider their social identity. (Like travelers, health freak, party rocker, religious, family man)
India is blessed or cursed with many social identities due to huge history and culture. Politician takes huge advantage from affiliation to caste to Ambedkar to Modi to caste to religion to state. Social identity became like human button used to trick/vote/opinions.
A good manipulator can make human do amazing things and cause progress. A clever manipulator can even make human destroy other humans who don’t belong to their social identity.
Want to know what are your social identities?
Just think of all things that offend and trigger you. When you expose that the things that offend you, you expose that button or handle to people who know how to manipulate you.
