In today’s world, we face big problems like climate change, poverty, and terrorism that can only be tackled if everyone works together globally. But how do we get everyone on the same page? A recent study led by the University of Oxford suggests that by reminding ourselves of our shared biology and common experiences worldwide, we can strengthen our bonds with humanity as a whole, which could motivate us to take action and address these global issues.
The study, published in Royal Society Open Science, highlights two important ways to bring people together: recognizing our shared ancestry and acknowledging shared life experiences, not just within our own communities but with people worldwide.
Lead researcher Lukas Reinhardt from the University of Oxford explains, We’re seeing more ‘us versus them’ thinking around the world, which makes it harder to solve global problems. Our research shows that by building a shared global identity, we can encourage cooperation on a global scale. This has big implications for leaders, organizations, and activists working on global issues.
To see how connecting with our shared biology globally affects our connection with humanity, participants watched a TED talk emphasizing our common human ancestry. Those who watched the video felt a stronger bond with humanity as a whole compared to those who didn’t, suggesting that reminding ourselves of our shared roots can bring us closer together. Surprisingly, even people who supported different political parties felt more connected after watching the video, showing that this approach can bridge political divides.
The study also looked at how shared life experiences, like motherhood, can strengthen global bonds. Mothers who shared their experiences with other moms worldwide felt a stronger connection with them. This suggests that by recognizing our common life experiences, we can feel closer to people everywhere.
In both cases, researchers measured the strength of these connections using a simple method: participants chose images that represented their relationship with humanity, with more overlap indicating a stronger bond. This bond wasn’t just a feeling; it also translated into action. Participants who felt more connected globally were more likely to show concern for different groups when asked how they would distribute money in hypothetical scenarios.
Harvey Whitehouse, a co-author of the study, believes these findings have significant implications. This is the first time we’ve shown that we can create powerful bonds uniting all of humanity. If we can do it in a simple experiment, we can develop even more effective ways to motivate action on global problems in the future.
Sources
University of Oxford | Reinhardt Lukas and Whitehouse Harvey, Why care for humanity? R. Soc. Open Sci., 11:231632. doi.org/10.1098/rsos.231632
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