Ben Miller wrote:
> It seems to me that all of John Kulig's examples, and Michael Sylvester's original
> example, can be understood better in terms of inaccessibility than in terms of
> difference. As John points out, Russians and Poles are not different; neither were
> Montagues and Capulets or knights and princesses. They were, however, socially
> forbidden or inaccessible.
Ah - parsimony! I'm (only) partially convinced. Technically, Poles and Russians are
different,
as are different social strata. But I think psychological factors magnify even small
differences. In the old Robber's Cave studies (Sherif) for instance, small differences
were
exaggerated so as to enhance intergroup differences.
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John W. Kulig [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Department of Psychology http://oz.plymouth.edu
Plymouth State College tel: (603) 535-2468
Plymouth NH USA 03264 fax: (603) 535-2412
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"The only rational way of educating is to be an example - if
one can't help it, a warning example." A. Einstein, 1934.
