Human nature often leads individuals to cloak their hatred towards a specific group as a virtuous story in their minds. This phenomenon occurs regardless of the targeted group, whether it be men, women, a race, or any class of human beings. The brain tends to create a narrative that justifies the hatred, portraying the individual as heroic or virtuous due to past experiences or perceived injustices. This behavior is rooted in our inherent xenophobic and status-seeking nature, making it easy for individuals to fall into the trap of blaming a certain group for their problems. Recognizing this tendency is crucial in understanding and combating the innate human inclination towards prejudice and discrimination.
Will Storr is a former journalist and author. He is the author of several books, the most recent of which is "The Status Game: On Human Life and How to Play It." www.thescienceofstorytelling.com
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