Distrust Quote by Michael Shermer
““The almost universal nature of within-group amity and between-group enmity, wherein the rule-of-thumb heuristic is to trust in-group members until they prove otherwise to be distrustful, and to distrust out-group members until they prove otherwise to be trustful.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Believing Brain, Michael Shermer, 2017
People tend to favor those they see as part of their own group and are wary of outsiders until evidence changes that view.
In simple terms: We trust insiders, distrust outsiders until proven otherwise.
Key Takeaway
Question assumptions about group bias.
Themes
social psychology
bias
group dynamics
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- politics
- workplace
- education
- community building
Key Concepts
in-group favoritism
out-group prejudice
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you evaluate trust beyond group labels?
- What steps can reduce out-group suspicion?
A Different Perspective
Bias can be overcome with intentional exposure and dialogue.
