The article is based on the book «Social Psychology» by David Myers
Joint equal activity is a powerful factor that brings people together.
Have you ever, along with others, fallen victim to natural disasters, been new to a group, and therefore suffered ridicule from «old-timers», been punished by a teacher, or persecuted because of your social, racial or religious affiliation? If yes, then you remember how you became close to those who experienced these difficulties with you. Perhaps when you helped each other out of the snow or fought a common enemy, those social barriers that previously separated you collapsed.
Creating an external threat or enemy image is one of the oldest methods used by group leaders to make them more cohesive. For the world, for a country, for a group, a common enemy is an effective unifying factor. A more cohesive group can be made and extraordinary goalssubjugating all members of the group and requiring their joint actions.