Perfectionism and group assimilation have been a part of the country's core identity since the arrival of the first settlers.

If feedback-however valid-hits at your core identity, it can feel crushing, activating strong defensive reactions.

And a growing body of scientific research suggests that facts don’t change people’s beliefs — particularly when those beliefs are wrapped up in their sense of core identity.

An individual has (in the brain) a core identity theme (behaviors then becoming understandable as a theme and variations as in music).

We summarize this into four core identities: worshiper, learner, family, and missionary.