“Tribalism” has a generally negative reputation these days. It’s often used to refer to an us-versus-them mentality, or a culture that’s divisive and exclusionary. But that perception, according to cultural psychologist Michael Morris, “could not be more inaccurate as a description of what human tribal instincts are. They're instincts for solidarity, not for hostility.” 

On this episode of The Culture Kit, hosts Jenny Chatman and Sameer Srviastava interview Michael Morris, a professor at Columbia Business School, about his new book Tribal: How the Cultural Instincts That Divide Us Can Help Bring Us Together. 

Jenny, Sameer, and Michael discuss how tribal instincts allowed humans to break away from the primate back, and how these deeply ingrained instincts show up in organizations today. They also delve into modern and historical examples of leaders utilizing tribalism to adapt culture and even heal rifts.

3 Main Takeaways from Jenny & Sameer’s interview with Michael Morris:

Leaders can recognize and harness the three main types of tribal psychology:

1. The Peer Code – This is the impulse to match the behavior of the people around us.These norms allow for the smooth functioning of human interaction and are the basis for collaboration.
2. The Hero Code – This is the emulation of those with status or prestige. This instinct is triggered by symbols.
3. The Ancestor Code – This is the curiosity and urge to maintain the traditions and customs of past generations. This instinct is triggered by ceremonies and rituals.

Show Links:

• Tribal: How the Cultural Instincts That Divide Us Can Help Bring Us Together, by Michael Morris
• Michael Morris’ Website
• “A Language-Based Method for Assessing Symbolic Boundary Maintenance between Social Groups.” By Anjali Bhatt, Amir Goldberg, and Sameer B. Srivastava. Sociological Methods & Research, 2022.
• “Two-Sided Cultural Fit: The Differing Behavioral Consequences of Cultural Congruence Based on Values Versus Perceptions.” By Richard Lu, Jennifer A. Chatman, Amir Goldberg, and Sameer B. Srivastava. Organization Science, 2024.
• 2025 Culture Connect Conference, Berkeley Center for Workplace Culture and Innovation
• Full Episode Transcript

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Learn more about the podcast and the Berkeley Center for Workplace Culture and Innovation at www.haas.org/culture-kit.

*The Culture Kit with Jenny & Sameer is a production of UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business and the Berkeley Center for Workplace Culture and Innovation. It is produced by University FM.*