The Root of Discrimination and Divisiveness and How We Can Overcome It
Discrimination has long been a defining challenge of humanity. Across societies, the threads of racism, xenophobia, sexism, and ageism are woven into the tapestry of our collective experience. These prejudices influence laws, cultures, interactions, and—even silently, insidiously—even our everyday thoughts. We lament these injustices, call them out, and strive to fix them through legislation, education, and activism, yet they persist.
To understand why discrimination is so deeply entrenched is to look beyond social constructs, even beyond history itself, and examine the very nature of the human mind. Why does there seem to be this innate “us versus them” impulse? And, more importantly, can we rewire it?
This exploration begins where so much of our behavior originates—not in the external world but in the internal mechanisms of our own cognition.
On the cellular level, the concept of “me” versus “not me” begins as a mechanism of survival. Our immune systems are, in essence, perpetually engaged in discrimination. Antibodies recognize foreign invaders, bacteria, viruses, or other perceived threats, and act swiftly to eliminate them for the good of the system they serve. This primal line of defense is rooted in differentiation. It says, “This is me; this is not me. My job is to protect what is me and reject what is not.”
While this biological function is crucial for our physical survival, it inadvertently lays the groundwork for a mental and behavioral paradigm based on duality. This is neither good nor bad in itself; it simply “is”. But when this cognitive tendency evolves beyond biological utility into entrenched social and psychological habits, it becomes dangerous.
This instinctual drive to categorize fuels the human need to identify with tribes, groups, or ideologies. It is a fundamental feature of the human condition to simplify a complex world by sorting and labeling everything we encounter. Friend or foe. Familiar or foreign. Good or bad.
This duality creates walls where none were needed. It takes the infinite complexity of a person and reduces them to a single label or category, drawn from the perception of “otherness.” Through this lens, the nuance of humanity becomes lost under the weight of bias or prejudice.
Racism, for instance, stems from this distortion of perception. To prejudge someone based on the color of their skin is to reduce their identity to that one attribute, to strip away their multidimensional humanity in favor of preconceived notions. The same is true for xenophobia (fear of the outsider), sexism (an arbitrary imbalance of gendered power), and ageism (disregard based on generational divides). All are different shades of the same distorted pattern, repeated endlessly across time and space.
Discrimination, then, becomes less about the external world and more about the lens through which we view it. It is not merely society that must change; it is us.
If the human mind is at the root of these mechanisms, it follows that the remedy lies in its understanding. What do we truly know of our internal worlds? How often do we stop to question not just the thoughts we have but the processes that birth them?
Mental insight, or the ability to observe and understand the workings of one’s own mind, is the key to dismantling the internal systems that uphold discrimination. It is not enough to correct behavior without addressing the thought patterns that sustain it. Otherwise, the mind adapts, returns, and redefines the same biases in new and subtler ways.
Insight also allows us to see the illusory nature of duality for what it is. The labels we cling to, the things we assign meaning to, are all constructs. We are not inherently better than one another. We are not opponents locked in an endless battle for validation. These notions exist only because we have allowed them to be.
To truly fight discrimination, mental insight must be nurtured from an early age. Incorporating this into education systems and religious teachings would mark a profound shift in human development.
What does this look like in practice?
- Mindfulness Practices in schools that cultivate awareness of one’s thoughts and emotions. Through meditation, journaling, or reflective exercises, children can learn to examine their impulses rather than act on them.
- Empathy Curriculum that encourages perspective-taking, fostering an understanding of and connection to the lives of others.
- Critical Thinking Training that challenges the concept of absolute truths and encourages deeper questioning of assumptions, biases, and stereotypes.
- Religious Reformation that encourages spiritual leaders of all faiths to teach unity and interconnectedness instead of dogma that reinforces “us versus them” ideologies.
When insight becomes an integral part of learning, it will give rise to generations who do not just aim to tolerate diversity but to genuinely value and love it.
But what if we neglect this need? What if we continue to treat symptoms rather than resolve the disease at its core?
The answer is clear in the world today. Discrimination is not only entrenched but, increasingly, celebrated. Divisive figures in positions of power thrive by amplifying bias, encouraging cruelty, and creating tribalism.
When leaders foster a divisive atmosphere, the people who follow them internalize those qualities. Discrimination is not just passively perpetuated; it is actively championed. It becomes not a flaw to be corrected but a virtue to be embraced.
This dangerous landscape underscores the urgency of uprooting this issue now.
The human mind is capable of incredible transformation. Where once it only knew resistance, it can learn acceptance. Where once it categorized, it can now unify. But this transformation requires a deliberate and collective effort.
Each one of us must take responsibility for questioning our thoughts, challenging biases, and shifting how we perceive the world. Each leader must use their influence to prioritize unity over division. Each educator, parent, or spiritual guide must instill mental insight into future generations—not merely as an academic lesson but as a way of living.
It is time for us to rewrite our internal algorithms, to program a mind that celebrates the richness of diverse humanity rather than fears it. Only by doing so can we truly build meaningful relationships with each other and the sacred world we share.
Will we rise to the challenge of understanding ourselves?
The answer determines whether dictators will prevail, or more open, empathetic forms of leadership.
The answer determines the future of not just individuals and nations, but humanity itself.
