How important is it for you to belong to a “group”?

Many people belong to different groups in their lifetime, which can include physical groups, like the basket ball team, school, work, or “concept groups” that hold a specific belief.

Group behaviour illicits certain responses within the group to ensure cohesiveness. A good example would be your company’s product against opposition companies and the group’s behaviour in regards to this opposition. .

The Social Identify theory examines group behaviour and the effect it has on its members. Clearly in order to maintain status in a group, and to follow the general thinking of the group you would be expected to carry out certain behaviours.

Some of the behaviours of groups might lead to aggression towards for e.g. newer members of the group, or people in the group that may have appeared to have “sold out” on the group.

The rewards of adhering to group rules are “acceptance” and praise for example within the group. The reward would be something like a sense of belonging.

Do you consider yourself to be in many groups? Would you behave in ways contradictory to your nature in order to hang onto that “sense of belonging” Would you become aggressive if necessary? And why? Is it very important for you to feel like a part of a group to perhaps the detriment of your own self? If so does this signify a lack of self?

Other types of group identity would be numerous, but some to mention would be soldiers of the Vietnam War and group rapes.

Some references.
rape
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