We are what we think we are. If we perceive ourselves to be animals, we act as animals and we kill each other when we don't have to, as in capital punishment. If we perceive ourselves to be 'soldiers of the Causative Force,' we act like soldiers, as in the time of the crusades. If we perceive ourselves to be 'seekers' and 'exorcists' of evil, we act as 'seekers' and 'exorcists' of evil, as in the time of the inquisition. If we perceive ourselves to be a 'piece of the Causative Force,' then we will act as we would expect the Causative Force would act.
Most animals are what they are.
Likewise, the individual is what they think they are, what they perceive themselves to be. We are probably the only species that can decide what we think we are and then strive to become that perception. An ant acts like an ant because it is an ant. A wolf acts like a wolf because it is a wolf. This is not true for humans.