People join social groups for different reasons. Some individuals may join a social group for emotional support, while others may join for social gratification. Therefore, a wide range of social motives influences individuals to become part of a social group. However, particular social reasons are fundamental influences on an individual's desire to become a member of a group. The most influential social motive in the context of group participation is the need to belong.
Humans are social beings and therefore possess a natural inclination to form relationships with each other. These relationships define the identity of individuals in society. According to Baumeister and Leary (1995), humans have an inescapable desire to form and maintain significant interpersonal relationships. The desire is satisfied when regular and stable interpersonal relationships are formed. They also argue that the need to belong is the central social motive that drives humans to establish these relationships. The need to belong is, therefore, an essential human requirement in the social context. When this need is not met, individuals may feel socially isolated and lonely, resulting in psychological distress (Mellor et al. 2008). Joining a group provides interactions with other people that are vital for satisfying the need to belong.
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Once people join a social group, they develop a social identity, which is the crucial motive for sustaining group membership. Identifying with a social group allows and individual to grow in other aspects of the self-concept such as self-esteem (Weisel, 2016). Individuals become aware of whom they are based on their group membership. People adopt the identity of the group into which they belong and henceforth identify themselves in that context. The emotional and psychological significance derived from the group membership bind people to the group.
The need to belong and social identity motives can lead to intergroup conflicts if individuals perceive their threats (Weisel, 2016). If the actions of out-group members are viewed as a threat to the emotional and psychological well-being of the in-group members, intergroup conflict may arise. Individuals are likely to do what is suitable for the group, thus contribute to the intergroup conflict. Also, individuals may act to defend themselves of their need to belong is threatened.
References
Baumeister, R. F., & Leary, M. R. (1995). The need to belong: desire for interpersonal attachments as a fundamental human motivation. Psychological bulletin , 117 (3), 497.
Mellor, D., Stokes, M., Firth, L., Hayashi, Y., & Cummins, R. (2008). Need for belonging, relationship satisfaction, loneliness, and life satisfaction. Personality and individual differences , 45 (3), 213-218.
Weisel, O. (2016). Social motives in intergroup conflict: Group identity and perceived target of threat. European Economic Review , 90 , 122-133.
