The Case for Reinventing the Modern-Day Tribe
Human beings are inherently social creatures. It’s a familiar statement, perhaps even a trite one, yet the truth it contains is often overlooked. Our social nature is central to understanding both human behaviour and how society functions. Anthropologists and historians generally agree that our early ancestors organized themselves into small tribes of about 150 individuals, a key survival strategy that helped us endure and thrive in challenging environments.
The customs, instincts around fairness, ethical intuitions, and behavioural patterns that emerged in these close-knit groups have stuck with us. Part of this persistence comes from tradition. But more deeply, these patterns are woven into how our brains developed. The ways we adapted to survive and cooperate in such settings didn’t just help in the short term; they shaped our long-term motivations and how we relate to one another.
These early social frameworks still influence us today. They affect how we form relationships, our sense of morality, and even our unconscious biases. If we want to understand modern human behaviour—whether in personal relationships or in broader societal systems—it helps to understand this tribal legacy. The psychological blueprint of those early communities continues to guide how we interact and what we value.
Being part of a tribe was once essential for survival. To be excluded was a serious threat, which helps explain why ostracism today can cause such deep emotional pain and anxiety. This drive to belong and cooperate is deeply rooted.
But modern society looks very different from the world our ancestors lived in. The way we live now often clashes with our psychological wiring, physiological needs, and spiritual instincts. This mismatch has led to a kind of widespread discomfort. Much of modern history has been shaped by the tension between our evolutionary design and our current way of life. The result has been a range of social and psychological challenges, many of which we've tried to address through shared ideologies, community structures, and social rules.
Religion, for much of history, has helped fill this gap. It’s brought large groups of people together, fostering a sense of belonging through shared beliefs. It’s also offered a space for spiritual connection within the community. But many religious institutions that once played this role are now in decline, with more people moving away from organized religion.
Still, there are places, especially in rural areas, where something closer to a traditional tribal feel remains. These communities offer a strong sense of support and connection. But they’re becoming increasingly rare as more people move to cities.
Some smaller, modern communities still manage to preserve elements of the old tribal model. Churches, for instance, have helped people in larger communities stay connected through shared values and rituals. But, as noted earlier, their influence has diminished. Survey data shows a clear drop in religious affiliation over the past four decades.
As traditional support structures fade, governments and social welfare programs have stepped in to fill the gap. These systems now offer much of the help that used to come from family, tribe, or church. In Western societies especially, we’ve come to rely on institutional support for illness, hardship, and other needs. But this shift has changed how we relate to one another. In many urban settings, people live side by side but barely know their neighbours.
This isn’t a critique of social programs or a call to end them. Rather, it’s a reflection on what we’ve lost along the way: regular social contact, a sense of community, and meaningful human connection. Religious groups, when functioning well, often add a spiritual dimension to these ties, deepening the sense of belonging.
The breakdown of these connections is part of what researchers now call a “loneliness epidemic.” Loneliness affects more than just our mood. It can harm mental health, increase stress, and even raise the risk of physical illness. Urban design often makes things worse, especially in places like Canada, where there are few “third places”—public spaces where people can casually gather outside of home and work. These are spots where friendships form, ideas are exchanged, and social bonds are strengthened. In other countries, they still exist: French cafés, British pubs, Polish town squares, churches, synagogues, and other gathering places.
The good news is that even as traditional institutions decline, new paths are opening. There are more ways than ever to build community and explore spirituality. While spiritual collectives are nothing new, this moment gives us a chance to rethink and reimagine how they can meet modern needs. From the fading of the old, new things can grow. Out of disorder, there’s room for creativity. Through change, there’s the possibility of renewal. And in that renewal, we might find new ways of coming together and find ways that reflect who we are now while still speaking to something timeless in us all.
There are many ways to begin repairing this disconnection. Some approaches will come from the top down, through shifts in policy, education, and urban design. Governments and city planners, for example, can prioritize community spaces and create opportunities for meaningful social interaction. Workplaces can promote collaboration, empathy, and mentorship rather than competition alone. Schools can help children develop emotional intelligence and social skills that go beyond academics, preparing them for the kind of cooperative living that our nature calls for.
Other changes will unfold through the gradual evolution of culture itself. As people continue to search for belonging and meaning, new traditions and shared values are emerging, some of which may look different from the past but serve the same human need. We see this in the growing interest in mindfulness, group therapy, community gardens, and even online spaces that promote genuine connection. When enough people start living differently, society naturally begins to evolve in that direction.
But not all progress happens from above. Many of the most meaningful transformations must begin at the grassroots level, with individuals choosing to connect more deeply within their local communities. Real change often starts when people come together to talk, share, and grow. This is why I form in-person meetup groups such as Soul Collective and Nexus of Spirituality, Psychology, and Wellness. These gatherings are small by design, echoing the size and intimacy of our ancestral tribes. They provide space for open dialogue, emotional honesty, and the exploration of spiritual and psychological topics that have been left unattended in the wake of declining institutions like churches.
Through these groups, I aim to help strengthen the social fabric of my local community, to remind people that belonging is not something we wait to receive but something we build together. When we meet face to face, share stories, and listen with curiosity, something ancient and essential reawakens in us. We realize that we are not alone, that meaning grows through connection, and that the impulse to gather in search of truth and understanding is one of humanity’s oldest instincts.
We may not be able to recreate the tribes of our ancestors, but we can cultivate spaces that carry the same spirit. Spaces where people can be seen, heard, and supported. Whether through neighbourhood gatherings, creative circles, spiritual discussions, or acts of service, these small communities form the building blocks of a healthier and more connected world. And perhaps, in rediscovering each other, we also rediscover ourselves.