us-and-them
Ingroup versus outgroup
Us-and-them describes a mentality that divides people into opposing groups—insiders versus outsiders, allies versus enemies.
The phrase captures tribal thinking where loyalty to one's own group breeds suspicion or hostility toward others: an us-and-them attitude between management and workers, The debate devolved into us-and-them posturing.
Often used critically to highlight divisiveness.
Separation into opposing extremes
- riftCrack or estrangement
- schismFormal organizational fracture
- segregationForced separation by group
- partitionBarrier separating spaces
bifurcation · chasm · gulf · divide · separation · demarcation · dichotomy · cleavage
Exclusive social circle
- outgroupNon-members of one's group
- belongingState of fitting in
- kinshipState of being related
- tribalismIn-group loyalty, out-group hostility
affiliation · nationalism · ethnocentrism · clannishness · loyalty · allegiance · solidarity · community
Hatred of outsiders
- prejudicePreformed unfavorable opinion
- stereotypeFixed oversimplified notion
- discriminationUnjust differential treatment
- scapegoatingUnfairly assigning fault to innocents
dehumanization · marginalization · exclusion · demonization · vilification · outsider · foreigner · alien
Philosophy of opposed pairs
- polarityState of opposing forces
- dichotomyDivision into contrasting parts
- either-orPresenting two alternatives
- black-and-whiteWithout color gradations
zero-sum · two-sided · oppositional · contrast · antithesis · simplification · reductionism · categorization
Antagonistic disposition toward others
- antagonismActive opposition or hostility
- rivalryOngoing contest between opponents
- tensionStretched or strained state
- enmityBitter, lasting ill will
animosity · friction · opposition · clash · feud · discord · strife · confrontation
polarization
Separation into opposing extremes
- riftCrack or estrangement
- schismFormal organizational fracture
- segregationForced separation by group
partition · bifurcation · chasm · gulf · divide · separation · demarcation · dichotomy · cleavage · disunion
ingroup
Exclusive social circle
tribalism · affiliation · nationalism · ethnocentrism · clannishness · loyalty · allegiance · solidarity · community · heritage
xenophobia
Hatred of outsiders
- prejudicePreformed unfavorable opinion
- stereotypeFixed oversimplified notion
- discriminationUnjust differential treatment
scapegoating · dehumanization · marginalization · exclusion · demonization · vilification · outsider · foreigner · alien · fear-mongering
dualism
Philosophy of opposed pairs
- polarityState of opposing forces
- dichotomyDivision into contrasting parts
- either-orPresenting two alternatives
black-and-white · zero-sum · two-sided · oppositional · contrast · antithesis · simplification · reductionism · categorization · labeling
hostility
Antagonistic disposition toward others
- antagonismActive opposition or hostility
- rivalryOngoing contest between opponents
- tensionStretched or strained state
enmity · animosity · friction · opposition · clash · feud · discord · strife · confrontation · adversarial
us-and-themwe
not just me
all of us · togetherness · unity · solidarity · brotherhood
us-and-themuniversalism
Doctrine of total reconciliation
cosmopolitanism · egalitarianism · humanism · common ground · shared humanity
us-and-themcollaboration
Joint intellectual work
cooperation · partnership · win-win · mutual benefit · common cause