Taken to the extreme, an irrational fear of strangers or more broadly, a fear of those who are different. Taken in a more moderate way, a rational fear of those who are different in some significant way, such as race, ethnicity, culture, politics, religion. Since people live together in families and communities where blood ties and cultural similarities foster cooperation, those who are different undermine this social solidarity. The very presence of people who are different in appearance or belief or language make the majority of people in a community wary of those who do not share a common interest in preserving the dominant group.
This fear is justified since people naturally view those who look, believe, and act in a similar manner as extensions of themselves. Since people are naturally selfish, they will lend aid and befriend those whom they see as similar to themselves. Conversely, since people are naturally selfish and seek to dominate others to enhance their own power, they will naturally first seek to dominate those who are different. People who are different are more likely to be seen as objects rather than fellow humans.
When confronted with these threats to social cooperation based on viewing others as objects, it is rational to foster laws, social and economic policy, and attitudes that preserve one's own kind in power. To do otherwise is to hand power over to those who will destroy one's own way of life, culture, and political system.
Political power as well as cultural and social power are zero-sum games. When one group gains in the same geographical region, other groups must lose.
This fear is justified since people naturally view those who look, believe, and act in a similar manner as extensions of themselves. Since people are naturally selfish, they will lend aid and befriend those whom they see as similar to themselves. Conversely, since people are naturally selfish and seek to dominate others to enhance their own power, they will naturally first seek to dominate those who are different. People who are different are more likely to be seen as objects rather than fellow humans.
When confronted with these threats to social cooperation based on viewing others as objects, it is rational to foster laws, social and economic policy, and attitudes that preserve one's own kind in power. To do otherwise is to hand power over to those who will destroy one's own way of life, culture, and political system.
Political power as well as cultural and social power are zero-sum games. When one group gains in the same geographical region, other groups must lose.
Campus Leftist: "Oh, those conservatives really show their xenophobia in opposing open immigration. That shows what closed minds they have and how paranoid they are. Of course, we had to shout down a conservative speaker last night at the lecture series, and drive him off campus in order to promote diversity and pluralism. We would never be prejudiced as those conservatives are."
by Tex in Tex February 01, 2008
by xenophobian June 06, 2006
by shizzl May 03, 2005
The belief that your country is the best and no other compares.
This is often due to ignorance and stereotypes
This is often due to ignorance and stereotypes
by evilhairyhamster July 15, 2006
Scientologist: Xenu is coming. He will destroy you. You must remove the souls from your body so he can't eat you!
Person: Wow, that's a new one. Xenophobic much?
Scientologist: Xenophobia??? Are you a... noof?
Person: Wow, that's a new one. Xenophobic much?
Scientologist: Xenophobia??? Are you a... noof?
by eco April 28, 2008
1) 99.99% of all Conservatives.
2) An irrational, and usually unfounded fear of foreigners.
3) A word often seen in SAT practice books/tests, but rarely used in everyday speech or text.
2) An irrational, and usually unfounded fear of foreigners.
3) A word often seen in SAT practice books/tests, but rarely used in everyday speech or text.
1) Although absolutely EVERYONE in America is the descendent of an immigrant, the Conservatives' xenophobic attitude makes modern immigration difficult.
2) Bob is so xenophobic! Did you see the way he freaked out in front of that exchange student?
3) Although we were forced to memorize it's definition, xenophobia never once showed up on the SAT.
2) Bob is so xenophobic! Did you see the way he freaked out in front of that exchange student?
3) Although we were forced to memorize it's definition, xenophobia never once showed up on the SAT.
by chibi_tan013 August 01, 2010
An irrationally-biased/prejudiced/hateful attitude regarding "foreign" incandescent bulbs which contain any of those "fancy gases" like xenon; said closed-minded person prefers instead to simply stick with "regular 'n' domestic" plain-tungsten-filamented lamps.
I haven't really got anything to say against modern technology, and I certainly don't possess xenophobia, but I do still prefer just the "bargain-basement" tungsten-halogen lamps as opposed to the much-more-expensive --- and often far more power-thirsty --- gas-filled bulbs; besides, I don't like blazingly-brilliant headlights overpoweringly boring holes clear through my skull when I'm merely trying to peaceably tootle my way home, and so I wouldn't wanna use those beastly-bright "second sun" lamps, anyway, since then I myself would be making it harder for other drivers to see, as well.
by QuacksO November 18, 2018