Development Note #6
Belonging and othering are deeply human tendencies—perhaps responsible for much of human conflict as well as cooperation. The desire to belong makes group life possible. It allows people to form communities that can be constructive or destructive. Yet once groups form, members may begin to view outsiders as different. This can progress from simple recognition to suspicion, exclusion, or violence based on factors such as ethnicity, ideology, class, or bias. Treating people differently simply because they seem different is othering.
Human survival has long depended on cooperation within groups built on trust and shared identity. Conflict with outsiders—often over resources or safety—may have been a natural extension of this group organization. However, as civilization expanded from small tribal societies to global systems, patterns of belonging and othering became more complex and far more consequential. Despite this complexity, these forces continue to shape nearly every aspect of social life.
Belonging is commonly defined as the sense of security, acceptance, and identity felt within a group. It enables people to cooperate, strengthens relationships, and encourages participation. When individuals feel valued and heard, communities tend to become more stable and resilient.
Othering occurs when individuals or groups are treated as alien or inferior because they differ from the dominant group. Though “us versus them” thinking is ancient, the scholarly term othering emerged in the 1970s to describe this distinction. Its consequences can range from mild prejudice to severe social or physical harm.
No one is immune to these tendencies. Even groups that see themselves as open and inclusive may appear unified and exclusionary to outsiders. Once group boundaries form, each side may begin judging the other through assumption rather than understanding.
Belonging and othering are closely linked. The need to belong creates groups, and groups naturally create outsiders. Throughout history, this dynamic has sometimes led to dehumanization and violence. Yet humans also possess the ability to reflect on these instincts and manage them through awareness and reason.
Several works explore these dynamics in depth, including Belonging: The Science of Creating Connection and Bridging Divides by Geoffrey L. Cohen, Belonging without Othering by john a. powell and Stephen Menendian, and Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World by Vivek H. Murthy.
A related concept is the fundamental attribution error, introduced by psychologist Lee Ross. It describes the tendency to attribute others’ actions to personal character rather than external circumstances. For example, we may label someone careless (or worse) for running a stop sign, without considering situational stress or distraction. This error simplifies complex lives into quick judgments and mirrors othering by reducing people to incomplete interpretations of their behavior.
Imagine a society where belonging is strengthened and othering diminished. Conflicts would still occur, but without the group-based hostility that intensifies division. Efforts to promote belonging currently exist across sectors. Political institutions, businesses, faith organizations, and nonprofits can all attempt, in different ways, to foster connection. Youth programs such as 4-H, for example, emphasize acceptance and empowerment at an early age.
Yet isolated efforts are insufficient. Meaningful progress would likely require collaboration among multiple organizations working at both national and local levels. Local communities, supported by development organizations with expertise in social connection, could create institutional frameworks that strengthen belonging while reducing othering.