Nationalist or globalist? It may come down to psychological health.

Strong attachment to group identity is born out of insecurity, explains psychologist Dr Steve Taylor. Psychologically healthy people feel connected to all humans and are able to think beyond borders. Could we lessen nationalistic stife by promoting psychological health? 

Show notes
00:29 Intro

03:17 Are humans naturally tribal? 

05:04 When humans developed individualism

08:55 "Psychologically healthy people are not nationalistic"

10:42 The theory of terror management

12:07 Post-traumatic transformation and identity

15:18 Could we attenuate nationalistic conflict by encouraging psychological safety?

17:49 Transnationalism should include more than the human species

19:56 Did the pandemic divide or bind communities?

22:36 Machiavels and narcissists in power 

24:53 What psychologically healthy leadership looks like

28:35 Building institutions that encourage good leadership

30:52 Outro

What if the world was one country? A psychologist on why we need to think beyond borders. Steve Taylor for The Conversation, January 2021
How to stop psychopaths and narcissists from winning positions of power. Steve Taylor for The Conversation, April 2021

Earthrise: The 45th anniversary. Video by NASA.

Why ‘Mom’ and ‘Dad’ Sound So Similar in So Many Languages. John McWhorter for The Atlantic, October 2015