ABSTRACT
The conflict is ancient. As long as we have been human, we have confronted the dilemma of maintaining and individual identity versus becoming submerged in a group. Both choices are double-edged. The affirmation that we feel when basking in the glow of individual accomplishments is countered by the aching isolation of loneliness. The loosening of our hold on the ego can bring about an emotional communion of a transcendental nature, but it can also lead us to commit atrocities of horrific proportions. The alluring and alarming characteristics of each choice have contributed to a confusing mystique about human behavior, fueling countless speculations about our dualistic aspects, part human and yet part animal.
