--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's not just human nature to associate…" description: "\"It's not just human nature to associate in tribes. It's deeper than that.\" — Jordan Peterson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2f/jordan-peterson-4688_deeper_it-s-not-just-human-nature-to-associate_198401.png" --- # It's not just human nature to associate in tribes. It's… ![“It's not just human nature to associate in tribes. It's deeper than that.” quote by Jordan Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2f/jordan-peterson-4688_deeper_it-s-not-just-human-nature-to-associate_198401.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2f/jordan-peterson-4688_deeper_it-s-not-just-human-nature-to-associate_198401.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2f/jordan-peterson-4688_deeper_it-s-not-just-human-nature-to-associate_198401.png) > “It's not just human nature to associate in tribes. It's deeper than that.” [Jordan Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-peterson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human beings naturally form groups, but the drive to belong runs deeper than simple tribalism, influencing identity and behavior. **In simple terms:** We seek belonging beyond simple groups. Key Takeaway Recognize deeper social drives. Themes identity belonging psychology group dynamics Mood reflective analytical Type philosophical observational When to use this quote - teamwork - community building - leadership - conflict resolution Key Concepts social identity theory evolutionary psychology collectivism Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance group identity with individuality? - What drives your need to belong? A Different Perspective Tribal instincts can also foster exclusion. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human/) [Human nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-nature/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) [Tribe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tribe/) [Tribes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tribes/) ## Related quotes > [My real name's McGill. The Jew thing I just do for the homeboys. They all want a pipe-hitting member of the tribe, so to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul/my-real-name-s-mcgill-the-jew-thing-i-just-do-for-the-homeboys-they/) [Saul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul/) > [A man's flesh is his own; the water belongs to the tribe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/a-man-s-flesh-is-his-own-the-water-belongs-to-the-tribe/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) > [The most ridiculous were those who, on their own authority, made themselves the judges and justices of the tribe. They seemed never to suspect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-valery/the-most-ridiculous-were-those-who-on-their-own-authority-made/) [Paul Valery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-valery/) > [I'm of the people in the bar and the people in my stories. They are my tribe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-jo-campbell/i-m-of-the-people-in-the-bar-and-the-people-in-my-stories-they-are-my/) [Bonnie Jo Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-jo-campbell/) > [We must buy jewelry; it identifies us with our tribe, just as body piercing identifies those of a different tribe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/we-must-buy-jewelry-it-identifies-us-with-our-tribe-just-as-body/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [If you go back in time you'll find tribes that were essentially only concerned with their own tribal members. If you were a member…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/if-you-go-back-in-time-you-ll-find-tribes-that-were-essentially-only/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) > [What tribes are, is a very simple concept that goes back 50 million years. It's about leading and connecting people and ideas. And it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/what-tribes-are-is-a-very-simple-concept-that-goes-back-50-million/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [Like any family, like any group - the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, EPMD, Public Enemy - they've had bumps in the road. I just think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-rapaport/like-any-family-like-any-group-the-beatles-led-zeppelin-epmd-public/) [Michael Rapaport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-rapaport/) > [If you just take a single human and put him or her in the forest he or she might not do very well without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-nye/if-you-just-take-a-single-human-and-put-him-or-her-in-the-forest-he/) [Bill Nye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-nye/) > [Well, it's an ancestral tribe. These were immigrants from north of Germany who came here about the time of the Civil War, but anyway,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/well-it-s-an-ancestral-tribe-these-were-immigrants-from-north-of/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [In ancient days, Deltora was divided into seven tribes. The tribesfought on their borders but otherwise stayed in their own place. Each had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-rodda/in-ancient-days-deltora-was-divided-into-seven-tribes-the/) [Emily Rodda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-rodda/) > [God is one; there are not many Gods, one for each tribe among men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sathya-sai-baba/god-is-one-there-are-not-many-gods-one-for-each-tribe-among-men/) [Sathya Sai Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sathya-sai-baba/) > [Tribe follows tribe, nations follow nations like the tides of the sea. It is the order of nature, and regret is useless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chief-seattle/tribe-follows-tribe-nations-follow-nations-like-the-tides-of-the-sea/) [Chief Seattle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chief-seattle/) > [A tribe, let us say, is warlike. The successes for which it strives, the achievements upon which it sets store, are connected with fighting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/a-tribe-let-us-say-is-warlike-the-successes-for-which-it-strives-the/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [ ... the reason life works at all is that not everyone in your tribe is nuts on the same day. \[pp. 65-66\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/the-reason-life-works-at-all-is-that-not-everyone-in-your-tribe-is/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) ## More by Jordan Peterson > [We're so immaturely cynical as a culture. We're not wise enough to look at an institution like marriage and to really things about what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-peterson/we-re-so-immaturely-cynical-as-a-culture-we-re-not-wise-enough-to/) [Jordan Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-peterson/) > [To me, ideology is corrupt; it's a parasite on religious structures. To be an ideologue is to have all of the terrible things that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-peterson/to-me-ideology-is-corrupt-it-s-a-parasite-on-religious-structures-to/) [Jordan Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-peterson/) > [The literature associating inequality with social instability and poor health outcomes is pretty convincing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-peterson/the-literature-associating-inequality-with-social-instability-and/) [Jordan Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-peterson/) > [Assuming if there's such a thing as reality, if you have a false relationship with it, how can you do anything but fail?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-peterson/assuming-if-there-s-such-a-thing-as-reality-if-you-have-a-false/) [Jordan Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-peterson/) > [The people who hold that our culture is an oppressive patriarchy, they don't want to admit that the current hierarchy might be predicated on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-peterson/the-people-who-hold-that-our-culture-is-an-oppressive-patriarchy-they/) [Jordan Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-peterson/) > [The multiplication force of technology on cognitive differences is massive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-peterson/the-multiplication-force-of-technology-on-cognitive-differences-is/) [Jordan Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-peterson/) > [It's very difficult to regulate yourself, and if you learn to do that, well, it starts to spill over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-peterson/it-s-very-difficult-to-regulate-yourself-and-if-you-learn-to-do-that/) [Jordan Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-peterson/) > [I suppose for a very long time I've been trying to understand how it is that people might make sense out of their lives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-peterson/i-suppose-for-a-very-long-time-i-ve-been-trying-to-understand-how-it/) [Jordan Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-peterson/) > [People have this capacity within them to set the world straight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-peterson/people-have-this-capacity-within-them-to-set-the-world-straight/) [Jordan Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-peterson/) > [The connection between psychology, mythology, and literature is as important as the connection between psychology and biology and the hard sciences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-peterson/the-connection-between-psychology-mythology-and-literature-is-as/) [Jordan Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-peterson/) > [“The data on the economic utility of artists is really, really strong. Artists and entrepreneurs are the same people...and of course entrepreneurs are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-peterson/the-data-on-the-economic-utility-of-artists-is-really-really-strong/) [Jordan Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-peterson/) > [It isn't generally the case that liberals dominate entire hierarchies. That isn't generally how it works, because the hierarchies are usually set up so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-peterson/it-isn-t-generally-the-case-that-liberals-dominate-entire-hierarchies/) [Jordan Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-peterson/) > [I like to recede away from classifications. You might say that indicates a fundamental lack of commitment. I suppose that's true to some degree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-peterson/i-like-to-recede-away-from-classifications-you-might-say-that/) [Jordan Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-peterson/) > [There were some great clinicians in the 20th century - great men. Freud was a genius; Jung was a genius, Carl Rogers was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-peterson/there-were-some-great-clinicians-in-the-20th-century-great-men-freud/) [Jordan Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-peterson/) > [It's not proper for the government to intrude too thoroughly into the domain of the family. It's inappropriate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-peterson/it-s-not-proper-for-the-government-to-intrude-too-thoroughly-into-the/) [Jordan Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-peterson/) [Explore all 107 Jordan Peterson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-peterson/) ## More Deeper quotes > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [Donald Trump is a different ball of wax. I've been trying to say for I don't know how many months now that the traditional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/donald-trump-is-a-different-ball-of-wax-i-ve-been-trying-to-say-for-i/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Schools must inquire deeper into their own practices, explore new ways to motivate their learners, make use of learning styles, introduce multiple intelligences, integrate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-fullan/schools-must-inquire-deeper-into-their-own-practices-explore-new-ways/) [Michael Fullan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-fullan/) > [It's bluesy, rocky jazz. I call it soul music, but it's not James Brown soul music. It comes from my soul. It comes from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tinsel-korey/it-s-bluesy-rocky-jazz-i-call-it-soul-music-but-it-s-not-james-brown/) [Tinsel Korey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tinsel-korey/) > [I've certainly seen a lot of my cartoonist friends embrace 'Little Lulu' in a much deeper way because their kids love it so much.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth/i-ve-certainly-seen-a-lot-of-my-cartoonist-friends-embrace-little/) [Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth/) > [“It is usually easier to see what lies on the surface of a person rather than taking the time and attention to delve deeper.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-anne-warren/it-is-usually-easier-to-see-what-lies-on-the-surface-of-a-person/) [Tracy Anne Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-anne-warren/) > [Your deeper sense isn’t a springboard; it’s a landing place. If you draw conclusions too quickly or too slowly, you’ll establish your self where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-de-ruiter/your-deeper-sense-isn-t-a-springboard-it-s-a-landing-place-if-you/) [John de Ruiter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-de-ruiter/) > [Forgiving the men who killed my parents and brother was a process, a journey into deeper and deeper prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immaculee-ilibagiza/forgiving-the-men-who-killed-my-parents-and-brother-was-a-process-a/) [Immaculee Ilibagiza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immaculee-ilibagiza/) > [I thought I knew a lot about music. Then you start digging and the deeper you go, the more there is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mellencamp/i-thought-i-knew-a-lot-about-music-then-you-start-digging-and-the/) [John Mellencamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mellencamp/) > [As to London we must console ourselves with the thought that if life outside is less poetic than it was in the days of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/goldwin-smith/as-to-london-we-must-console-ourselves-with-the-thought-that-if-life/) [Goldwin Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/goldwin-smith/) > [On a deeper level you are already complete. When you realize that, there is a joyous energy behind what you do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/on-a-deeper-level-you-are-already-complete-when-you-realize-that/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [Each day my love grows deeper, deeper than I never thought before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/each-day-my-love-grows-deeper-deeper-than-i-never-thought-before/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You know what I was thinking about on my way home? How different my life would be if you’d made that gash a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffanie-debartolo/you-know-what-i-was-thinking-about-on-my-way-home-how-different-my/) [Tiffanie DeBartolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffanie-debartolo/) > [When we have the same thought again, the line of the original thought is deepened, causing what's called a memory trace. 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