Testing the identity synergy principle: Identity fusion promotes self and group sacrifice

Abstract

The social-categorization framework views the salience of personal and social identity as functionally antagonistic such that activation of one entails muting the other. Identity fusion theory, in contrast, suggests that when a group connection is strong the personal and social identities fuse such that activation of one activates the other and they synergistically influence behavior (e.g. fighting and dying for the group). We reasoned that such synergy should yield a reciprocal (not antagonistic) promotion of group-serving and individual-serving goals whereby fusion promotes willingness to sacrifice the self for the group and sacrifice the group for the self. Two studies yield evidence consistent with fusion theory in terms of a reciprocal sacrifice of self and group via fighting but not dying.