Loyalty is the glue that holds our connections together. It’s a two-way street of faithfulness, honesty, and support. In our families, loyalty means being there for loved ones through thick and thin, celebrating victories, and offering a shoulder to cry on during challenges. With friends, it’s about trustworthiness and keeping confidence.
Spouses rely on a partner’s loyalty for emotional security and a sense of commitment. Loyalty to an employer translates into dedication and hard work, while for a favourite brand, it reflects a continued preference based on positive experiences. Ultimately, loyalty strengthens all our relationships by fostering trust, respect, and a sense of belonging.
Political loyalty
In the current Sri Lankan context, party loyalty is a crucial topic that many are discussing. It is necessary to understand how people become loyal to certain political parties for generations, often without questioning their choices.
As human beings, we have an innate desire to belong and create an identity for ourselves. Political parties provide a sense of community and identity that aligns with an individual’s values, beliefs, and goals. By identifying with a particular party, people strengthen their sense of self and belonging within a larger group.
Once individuals align themselves with a particular political party, they often exhibit confirmation bias. Confirmation bias in a political context means that people tend to favour information that confirms their existing beliefs or political affiliations while ignoring or dismissing information that contradicts them. For example, if someone strongly supports a certain political party, they might only pay attention to news or opinions that support that party’s views, even if there is evidence or arguments against those views. They might ignore or discredit information from other parties or sources that challenge their beliefs. This bias can reinforce their loyalty to their chosen party and make it harder for them to consider alternative perspectives or change their opinions.
Loyalty to a political party can also stem from emotional factors such as family tradition, personal experiences, or charismatic leadership within the party. Emotional connections formed through shared experiences or perceived common goals can deepen one’s allegiance to a party.
Social norms
Several factors influence a person’s loyalty. First, society acts as a sculptor, shaping our understanding of loyalty through a web of unwritten rules and expectations. These social norms become the bedrock on which we build our relationships. Family loyalty is often at the top. We’re expected to stand by our loved ones, offering unwavering support and forgiveness during life’s difficulties. This deep-rooted sense of loyalty fosters a strong family unit, creating a haven for individuals within the larger social structure.
Similarly, loyalty to friends is a cornerstone of strong friendships. It signifies trustworthiness, the ability to keep secrets, and being there for one another through laughter and tears. Friends who embody loyalty create a dependable support system, a crucial aspect of navigating life’s challenges. When it comes to romantic relationships, societal norms often emphasise unwavering commitment and emotional fidelity. This expectation of loyalty fosters a sense of security and stability within the partnership.
The concept of loyalty extends beyond personal relationships.
In the professional setting, loyalty to one’s company can manifest as dedication, hard work, and a commitment to the organisation’s goals. This loyalty often creates a mutually beneficial scenario – employees receive job security and growth opportunities, while companies benefit from a stable and dedicated workforce.
However, it’s important to note that societal norms around loyalty are not always fixed. As social values evolve, our understanding of loyalty may also shift, leading to a more nuanced approach to these expectations.
What do psychologists say?
Psychological research suggests that loyalty is a complex phenomenon that can be influenced by various factors. One of the primary drivers of loyalty is our fundamental need for social connection and belongingness. Loyalty acts as a social adhesive that strengthens the bonds we share with those we trust and value. By being loyal, we signal our commitment to the norms and values of a group, which fosters a sense of acceptance and security in us.
Evolutionary psychology further sheds light on the importance of loyalty. Studies suggest that in our ancestral past, loyalty to one’s tribe was crucial for survival. By working together and supporting each other, groups could better face threats and secure resources. This primal need for cooperation and trust may be hardwired into our brains, influencing our present-day behaviour.
As the available literature suggests, the exact brain region responsible for loyalty remains under investigation. However, the limbic system, which houses structures like the amygdala and hippocampus, plays a crucial role in processing emotions, memory, and social behaviour. When we experience positive reinforcement within a loyal relationship, these areas may be activated, creating a sense of reward and motivating us to continue acting loyally. Additionally, the prefrontal cortex, associated with decision-making and impulse control, likely comes into play when navigating situations that might test our loyalty.
Research on loyalty is ongoing, and psychologists continue to explore its nuances. However, the current understanding highlights loyalty’s significance in fostering healthy relationships, promoting social cohesion, and potentially even reflecting our evolutionary past.
Is loyalty all good?
Loyalty, while a valuable trait, can have some downsides. Unwavering loyalty to a group, be it family, friends, or a political party, can sometimes lead to a suppression of one’s individuality. The pressure to conform to group expectations can hinder personal growth and prevent individuals from exploring their own unique identities and values.
When loyalty becomes blind, it can cloud our judgement and make it difficult to be objective. We might hesitate to criticise the group or its actions, even if they go against our own personal beliefs. This can lead to a distorted sense of self, where our identity becomes intertwined with the group’s.
Loyalty can sometimes create situations where we feel pressured to compromise our own values for the sake of the group. For example, we might remain silent about a friend’s unethical behaviour out of loyalty, even though it clashes with our own moral compass. Constantly putting the needs of others before your own can lead to resentment. When loyalty becomes one-sided and isn’t reciprocated, it can breed feelings of frustration and anger.
Loyalty can create a conflict when we witness wrongdoing within a group we’re loyal to. Blowing the whistle on unethical behaviour can be difficult, as it might be seen as a betrayal of loyalty. This creates a complex ethical dilemma, forcing individuals to weigh their loyalty to the group against their moral obligation to speak up.
Furthermore, loyalty within a group can sometimes lead to groupthink, a phenomenon where members prioritise agreement over critical thinking. This can lead to poor decision-making and a reluctance to challenge the status quo, even if it’s necessary.
Understanding the complexities of loyalty can help us navigate its strengths and weaknesses, fostering healthier relationships and a more just society.
(The writer is a mental health professional and has, over the past 11 years, contributed to several Sri Lankan media publications in both English and Sinhala languages, focusing on topics related to psychology and counselling)