Identity fusion: The interplay of personal and social identities in extreme group behavior.
The University of Texas at Austin · National University of Distance Education
Abstract
The authors propose that when people become fused with a group, their personal and social identities become functionally equivalent. Two hypotheses follow from this proposition. First, activating either personal or social identities of fused persons should increase their willingness to endorse extreme behaviors on behalf of the group. Second, because personal as well as social identities support group-related behaviors of fused persons, the 2 forms of identity may combine synergistically, fostering exceptionally high levels of extreme behavior. Support for these hypotheses came from 5 preliminary studies and 3 experiments. In particular, fused persons were more willing to fight or die for the group than…
Citation impact
- FWCI
- 48.60
- Percentile
- 100%
- References
- 77
Authors
5Topics & keywords
- Social psychology
- Social identity theory
- Personal identity
- Psychology
- Social identity approach
- Identity (music)
- Social group
- Proposition
- Reduced inequalities