Study Reveals How Stress Fuels Group Unity—And Drives Intergroup Conflict
Groundbreaking research from Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf has illuminated the double-edged effects of stress: while it binds people more closely to their in-group, it simultaneously drives hostility toward perceived outsiders. Published this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the findings provide a nuanced neurobiological perspective on why group conflicts—even when costly to all—remain so persistent worldwide. This research offers valuable insights into the psychological forces underpinning social divisions, with implications for Thai society and global communities navigating rising polarization.