Due to an innate psychological ‘need to belong’, the ties that bind us all to groups – regardless of our social standing, ethnicity or gender – are incredibly strong and run very deep. Being a member of a group can enable us to accomplish feats that we could not do alone; it can give us a sense of safety and mental well-being, and may supply us with the support we need in times of crisis.

But group membership can also come at a heavy price, too. We may be prevented from making good decisions simply because we have formed a strong bond with other members of a group and don’t want to do anything that might hurt them.