Why would the people of a country need to think of themselves as better than everyone else?

Answer 1

Simply put? It's Richard's rule #2. I'm not going to explain that. This forum isn't big enough.

A country, especially its leaders, fosters a sense of "better than thou" to make their own country stronger through giving the citizens a common enemy. Give them a common enemy and rule #2 says you'll make a stronger society.

It's sometimes called patriotism. Sometimes hate. Depends on who you talk to.

If your economy sucks rocks, tell your people that a foreign country is causing it and get the folks hating *them* and not you.

Hitler understood and used rule #2 really well. The same exact thing exists in every sub-society, too. Brit soccer hooliganism, American football riots, highschool fistfights after the game etc.

Answer 2

CrazyAces is totally right, but for the record, in my experience, America is the only country that actually does that. Which is why they are sometimes overly patriotic to the point that they just assume their own superiority without really looking for reasons to back it up.

Other than that, patriotism can just be an outlet for ego. No one actually, truly can believe that their country is the best unless they have lived in ALL the countries, and I dont think anyone has. But group membership is something all humans seem to crave, and nationality/locality is often the basis for it. And there's no place like home- most people have emotional attachments to the place they grew up in, or where they've chosen to live their adult lives, or where their family is from. It's ingrained in our identities and gives us roots. So in that sense, it is personal, and people who have a sense of superiority will transfer that onto their nationality too.

Frankly I don't see why anyone feels they can give themselves credit for where they were born. I think a lot of Americans feel like they have a god-given right to respect just because they're American- I notice that a lot with tourists overseas. But it's who you are, and what you do with your life, that ought to count, because you could just as easily have been born somewhere else...

Answer 3

Do not classify a few extremists as the people of a country, it is not fair. How do you know they even belong in that country? Would you like to be classified for what hits the news in your community?

Answer 4

The need for power??? Who can really say what is true. Each country has a speciality and wants to flaunt it. They ALL want to be the 'most powerful nation in the world' but few can 'crack the code'. Make sense?

Answer 5

I personally think the government tells people that their country is the be all and end all country. Thats why they have us say the "Pledge of Allegience" everyday in grade school. To train us that our counrty is the best and that we should protect it.

Answer 6

Ecocentrism. People often know and understand one culture only: their own. They have difficulty understanding the moral, ethical, spiritual and fundamental basis of another and therefore, rule that their own culture is superior.

Answer 7

I know it's weird. Like everyone should know by now that Jamaicans are the best, but a few are still disillusioned. Who do you think invented those little umbrellas in your drink man?

Answer 8

Anyone in particular? I would like to think you really don't mean that. it is just to negative and to general to answer other then. We are all human and some good and some bad. Sorry that was my best answer.

Answer 9

Because they are lower than everyone else.

Answer 10

... because of ignorance and intolerance handed down from generation to generation.