Is Xenophobia a natural human instinct?

Answer 1

Yes, in my opinion:

To look at this matter realistically and not idealistically one must just accept that man has used tools to kill, in groups, i.e. packs, for at least 100,000 years. We are predatory and are not pacifists by nature. Killing other animals and even other humans is what we do, have done and most likely will continue to do, no matter what moralizing the peace, love, and microdot crowd wish to spew forth.

I believe that as men are predators we have a pack instinct, just like wolves, or any other pack predator. It is not evil or wrong; it just is a condition of the human existence that we ignore to our peril.

As such man will naturally be adverse to those outside of The Pack, just as any other pack animal. This is just a function of survival. Exclusivity is the key to survival in a preindustrialized world and man has only spent what...10,000 years of being above the level of the animal kingdom, in regards to base survival in any greatly distinctive manner--mainly the ability to surplus extra food so as to ensure survival and growth of the packs, ie. Races. Those instincts served us for 10 times that amount of time.

To call this hate is not to understand the valuable survival edge that shunning others can have in a bloody tooth and claw world, a world all of our ancestors survived through and bequeathed to us our genetics. And in the end survival and breeding is the key to all things in this world.

It may perhaps be fear, but that disregards that fact that normally a person, or group of persons is not so much afraid of the outsider(s) as such but of what they will lose to that outsider(s): Land, food, and mates.

What you call Xenophobia, I call the natural urge to defend: Land, food, young, and mates from any outside different type of pack.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

It could be, but that wouldn't make it "so-called". Racism is roughly defined as negative discrimination on the basis of race. Whether it has biological or cultural components, it still is racism. I suppose "racism" came to be used because many forms of xenophobia correlated with race perceptions. Xenophobia in America against white Canadians, Australians, or Britons for example is unheard of, while xenophobia against Chinese, Japanese, Arabs, and Latin Americans is not. If it made sense to call prejudice against African-Americans "xenophobic," then that would be included there too. I imagine that race, religion, and nationality will remain some of the xenophobic favorites going forward. The US and many European countries are faced with whites no longer being the majority within the next few decades, and perceived threats by the majority is a prime condition for xenophobia. Economic concerns are also a driving force behind xenophobia, since it is easier to blame a certain outside group than it is to understand the actual causes of economic decline.

Answer 4

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Answer 5

Although any given individual may be xenophobic,
Xenophobia is only common in certain parts of the world.

I think xenophobia is a rational cultural reaction, not human instinct.

I think it has to do with cultural rather than biological evolution.

Historically, in most parts of the world, human population levels were sparse. In places like the fertile cresent, the Indus, and Yelow River Valleys, they have been relatively very crowded for thousands of years.

In Australia or North America or the high Arctic the cultures were very trusting and open and accepting because cooperative efforts were needed to survive. This served them well as long as nature was the enemy. it did not help them against unscrupulous newcomers.

A stranger was considered a boon becasue they were novel, had new stories and knowledge and were able to help out.

In the earliest cultures, especially in Mesopotamia, material wealth developed early and the temptation to steal land or belongings was great. The original Mesopotamians for example, were probably quite accepting of strangers until one of the many war-like aggressive tribes came in and either enslaved or destroyed them. By virtue of geography, the list of constant aggressive nomadic peoples is almost limitless there.

In that part of the world, cultures who trusted strangers were systematically destroyed, while aggressive ones won out. Each group held to its own for practical reasons of survival.

Cultures there developed elaborate rationalizations for feuds, aggression, insults and even religion. The dominant religion there has its genesis in one band of warriors pillaging and stealing from non believers and then justifying or rationalizing this by calling them infidels and heretics.

This is less an intrinsic quality of the religion, because it simply plays to the already existing xenophobic tendencies in that region.

In places where there is no threat of violence, theft or subjegation, people revert to their natural state of welcoming strangers and trying to make them feel comfortable.

Unfortunately, there are still places in the world where that kind of trust will get a person killed.

Fortunately I live in a place where xenophobia is uncommon, but problems arise when people come from regions with cultural prejudices/xenophobia and import those tendencies here.

rotorhead--best laugh I have had in a couple of days!

Answer 6

Sadly yes, people fear that in which they do not know or understand. It's like walking into a dark room, you don't just run in and through a dark room, you cautiously and slowly walk through the room, looking for a light switch. So it is natural to feel that way at first, but in no regards is xenophobia an excuse for racism and bigotry. Those conditions are faults of the individual who does not take the time to learn more about those who are different than themselves.

Answer 7

NO!!! It is family, society, religion, government and environment that infests an individual with xenophobia. Greed and fear are it's greatest motivators. Nature does not make such distinctions.

Answer 8

Naw, I like Lucy Lawless.

Answer 9

Yes, particularly among the primitives. Amazonian Indians have been know to kill strangers on site. Islamics believe they need to force conformity in order to provide security. In the US, the most racially, ethnically, and culturally diverse nation on earth, progress has been made, but we still have a ways to go

Answer 10

by definition.... no. I would argue that most people who use that word do not know or understand its true meaning. However, it is true that some people do fear all foreigners