Just like when you cheer for your home team and get a rush of happiness, our brains light up when we harm those who are part of rival groups. Researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University discovered this exciting link by using special brain scans. The brain’s reward circuitry, responsible for making us feel good, becomes super active when we harm people from ‘outgroups’. It’s like when a sports fan sees their team score a goal — an explosion of joy! So why does this happen? Well, humans have a natural tendency to form groups that sometimes clash with one another. It seems that causing harm to the opposing group activates our brain’s reward system because it reinforces our sense of belonging and collective identity. Understanding this connection can help us develop strategies to reduce conflict and promote empathy. To dive deeper into the study, check out the full article!
