Hajime, I think we are both working towards the same point. I agree that intellectual superiority plays a big role in this, though I didn't elaborate on what I meant by "human nature".

Consider that Concept B is objectively more prodcutive than Concept A, which has been proven to be counterproductive in the global community. Consider that Programmer B tries to introduce concept B to Programmer A who has only known Concept A for their entire career.

Regardless of where they want to sit in the hierarchy, a typical visceral reaction for Programmer A would be to reject, deny, resist, or at least downplay the importance of, Concept B. They could geniunely want what's best for the product above their own career ambitions, but I think it's natural that they will feel they're attacked, feel shame, guilt, etc. The threat of inferiority is looming, but that's not the single driving factor for their feelings.

Now, regardless of how competitive Programmer B is in this hierarhcy, if they firmly believe what's best for the product, they will not back down. And naturally, there will be some frustration. How they initially feel about that situation isn't a choice, but how they deal with it, is.

This is the friction I'm referring to. Maybe not exactly "human nature", but it is natural to have visceral responses based on feelings attached to experience.

Yes, there can be superiority going on in this example, but even in a person who is not driven by ego, they will (at least internally) have natural responses to opposing ideas.

I haven't read Dr. Gruen's book, but it sounds ego plays a big role.

We need to abandon the concept of who is better, and focus on working together towards what is objectively better for the future of the products we build.