ABSTRACT
For decades, like many in field, the author has been struggling with questions that are core to the field of peacebuilding. This chapter is an attempt to outline some of understandings, and what they might mean for how the people refocus their reconciliation work. Many of the reader fail to understand how precarious is the conscious/rational side of brains, until they find themselves in a context that unleashes the forces of the people amygdala. It seems that a more conservative ideology, with its emphasis on tradition, hierarchy and maintenance of the status quo, provides a better match than liberal or progressive ideology for those who feel a greater need to reduce uncertainty and threat. If it is present in abundance it can make the people demonstrably more generous, trusting and compassionate towards their neighbors, or otherwise. It seems then that it is far from clear-cut why the people believe what they believe..
