Internalized Caste Hierarchy Reflex

Have you ever seen the surname of a stranger and immediately started to identify what caste he is? Or situations where a stranger thought bringing up their caste totally out of context from the conversation you were having with them, to psychologically put themselves in a superior illusion they were born with? There is a term for this – it’s called Internal Caste Hierarchy Reflex. Many in our Dalit communities often confuse inferiority complex with this. But the internal caste reflex is the primary issue. Even referring one as upper caste & one as lower caste strengthens this reflex over time. Think about it.

Internal caste hierarchy reflex is the unconscious habit of ranking people—including oneself—based on caste ideas absorbed since childhood. Even when we consciously reject caste, these old patterns can silently shape our reactions, discomfort, or self-worth. It affects the mind by creating automatic fear, shame, or superiority responses without deliberate thinking. Neuroscience explains this through conditioning: the brain forms strong neural pathways from repeated social messages. The amygdala triggers emotional reactions before rational thought, while the prefrontal cortex may agree with equality later. Over time, repeated exposure wires bias into the brain as “normal.”

The casteist general castes’ hatred towards reservation actually does not have any ‘merit’ theory behind it; indeed, it is a cunning tactic they use to display how they are victims of a system, when the actual victims of their generational exploitation are still suffering. ‘Merit’ theory is a narrative to hide the cunning theory in their minds, which is known as ‘System Justification Theory’. System Justification Theory explains why people often defend unfair social systems, even when those systems harm them. It says that the human mind prefers psychological comfort and stability over constant conflict. To reduce stress and confusion, people unconsciously convince themselves that existing hierarchies are “natural,” “deserved,” or “the way things are.” Over time, this makes inequality feel normal.

Why do we Dalits hide caste? Psychologically, the answer traces back to this internalized issue of caste due to the passing of generations of trauma and humiliation. It is no surprise that before independence of our country, we were called the ‘depressed’ classes. You can observe this word ‘depressed’ had to do with the psychological issue created over generations. In my early years, I too hid my Dalit identity, & I know for a fact how it created anxiety in social situations and low self-confidence due to the internalized caste hierarchy reflex I was facing internally during my school/college years.

In the past decade of my life, getting a master’s degree abroad, being in a senior role in tech internationally previously, & taking up leadership roles when I got the opportunity—I slowly worked through healing this part in me and arrived at a point where I am confident about asserting my Dalit identity when needed in society. This shift brought in great self-esteem and a sense of complete ‘My’ identity. Realizing self-identity should be non-negotiable in one’s life if you truly want to work towards a satisfactory life, I believe.

Babasaheb rightly said annihilation of caste is the only way. You cannot work on restructuring a system when it is designed to make you fail. So how do we deal with the internalized caste reflex? The good news is that neuroplasticity allows these reflexes to be unlearned through awareness and new experiences. Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to change, rewire, and adapt throughout life.In simple terms: the brain is not fixed—it learns from experience. When we repeat certain thoughts, emotions, or behaviors, the brain strengthens those neural connections. When we stop using old patterns and practice new ones, those old connections weaken and new ones form.

What can we do? It starts firstly with acknowledging innately our Dalit identity. Then, when the reflex comes up in a public situation—either it could be someone who is trying to get an upper hand over you by trying to be dominant and projecting their caste, or you are being checked for your background. In that situation, mindfully accept this is a situation you have thought about and you know why these come up. Their caste has nothing to do with the capabilities or skills this person possesses.

Move ahead by dropping the thought & assert your opinions strongly based on the grounds of logic and rationality. Try to take innate pride in your Dalit identity & stop hiding. This is the way to heal the generational, society-caused trauma.