Humans tend to form groups, which often find themselves in conflict with rival groups. But why do people show such a ready tendency to harm people in opposing groups? A new study led by researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University used functional brain imaging technology to reveal a potential answer: It increases activity in the brain’s reward network.
Us versus them: Harming the ‘outgroup’ is linked to elevated activity in the brain’s reward circuitry: A new study used brain imaging to explain why humans are aggressive toward rival groups
