Tribal

Cultural Change Can Be Contagious

Discover how South Korea’s struggling soccer team transformed under a cryptic Dutch coach, reaching the semi-finals of the 2002 World Cup. This phenomenon, known as the “Hiddink Syndrome,” shows how a manager can harness cultural identities and redirect them. Learn how cultural changes to one visible group can ripple outward to reshape organizations and societies.

Cueing Norms of Prosperity

Explore how Singapore transformed from an impoverished island to one of the healthiest and wealthiest nations within a generation. Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew used biculturalism and situational cues to displace habits of graft with "free port" norms. Discover how the cultural dimension of corruption and other behavioral syndromes is critical to sparking change.

Activating Ideals of Inclusiveness

Understand how Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. mobilized millions for the Civil Rights movement with one speech. By alluding to iconic national symbols like Lincoln’s memorial, the phrase "all men are created equal," and the American Dream of a better life for one's children, he invoked ideals that his broad audience already embraced. See how resonant symbols can motivate aspirations towards a common goal.

Triggering Traditions to Inspire

Learn how Joan of Arc inspired French troops to turn the tide of the 100 Years War. Through religious ceremonies and folk traditions, she changed their take on the conflict, transforming a territorial spat into a holy war. Understand how experiences of rituals and existential threats spur mindsets that are powerfully motivating but potentially dangerous.

Social Information Shifts Cultural Habits

See how the Prohibition era in the US illustrates the interplay of peer perceptions and cultural norms. The temperance movement and the repeal campaign both aimed to shift  Americans' perceptions of public opinion. Understand how the tool of prevalence signals to shift perceived norms and the habits of life they undergird.

Re-thinking Workplace Discrimination

Why does racial discrimination persist even as racial animosity declines? While it's intuitive that discrimination can arise from hostility toward out-groups, it can also arise from favoritism toward in-groups. In recent years, organizational policies have amplified in-group favoritism in hiring, creating an ethical tribalism of white privilege. Understanding hero-instinct motivations suggests new strategies for promoting ethnic inclusion.