# 50. Self-delusion - the manipulation of self ## 50.5. Methodology/Refinements/Sub-species ### 50.5.12. Asymmetric insight This particular delusion makes us believe that we are generally happy to tolerate diversity and respect others' points of view. In reality, most people are quite insular and motivated to form small groups of like-minded people with similar backgrounds and opinions whilst excluding everyone else. The original delusion of being tolerant and open is based on the belief that we know everyone else far better than they know us, and not only that, we know them even better than they know themselves. We believe the same thing about groups of which we are members. As a whole, our group understands outsiders better than outsiders understand our group, and we understand our group better than the rest of its members understand themselves. This sad, un-utopian conclusion about our lack of real unity as a species, is the result of years of experimentation in behavioural science. The behaviour of tribal societies has demonstrated, (including our own bloody history as a species), that we tend to form groups which rapidly become exclusive to any others who are even slightly different from us, or who come from outside our own group. Apart from the delusional belief in our tolerance of diversity, the fallacy also opens up a door to the outside manipulator, particularly when it suits the purpose of the manipulator to create division and antagonism where there would normally be harmony and warmth. As an illustration, two groups that normally coexist in an apparently stable and friendly way, can be rapidly driven into open warfare by a very small intervention by an outside manipulator. The manipulator knows that the division between two different groups will be disproportionate to the reason for the conflict. This is why murderous family and "tribal" feuds can be started over the most trivial of issues, such as an overhanging tree, a barking dog, an annual historical or religious parade, or a few metres of land. Ireland's recent history is a tragic example of how a manipulator can set two previously tolerant groups at each other's throats in the space of just a few years.