Why do we make choices that don’t really make sense for us—just so we’re not the last in line?

No one wants to be the loser at musical chairs—but what happens when that same fear runs our social and political choices? In this episode, I explore how the anxiety of “not being last” sneaks into our decisions.

Starting with David Ricardo’s comparative advantage theory (don’t worry, it’s more fun than it sounds), we’ll connect the dots to modern life.

Why do some women throw feminism under the bus?

Why people vote far right just to keep a scapegoat below them?

Don't we all sometimes play moves that make no real sense—except to soothe that deep fear of being left behind?

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Related readings

Explaining in-group/out-group dynamics and strategies individuals use to balance belonging to the in-group

1. Tajfel, H., & Turner, J. C. (1979).
An integrative theory of intergroup conflict. In W. G. Austin & S. Worchel (Eds.), The Social Psychology of Intergroup Relations (pp. 33–47). Brooks/Cole.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/348648205_Tajfel_and_Turner_Intergroup_Conflict_Theories_1997

2. Brewer, M. B. (1991).
The social self: On being the same and different at the same time. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 17(5), 475–482.

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0146167291175001