Identity Fusion: The Relationship Between Personal Identity And Social Identity
Identity fusion is a type of identity that links other types of identities. To understand this better, let’s think we all have at least two identities. A personal identity and one, or more, social. Our personal identity is directly linked to our personality. We can be more outgoing, more friendly, less neurotic, etc.
Our personal identity will ultimately be made up of different traits that define us. Social identities, on the other hand, correspond to the groups to which we belong. For example, family, country, religion, ethnicity, sports team, etc. These identities have norms, values and roles.
But, how do we behave? In accordance with our personality traits or the norms of our group? It will depend on the identity that will be activated. This will normally be our personal identity. So that we will behave according to our personality. But sometimes the group is bigger, so we will behave according to the role we have in it, and its rules. For example, when our group feels threatened.
Identity integration issues
The relationship between personal identity and social identity, which we have explained previously, poses certain problems:
- Our behavior is initiated by motivation. Behavior will take into account our personality if the motivation comes from our “personal selves”. In contrast, behavior will be determined by the rules and roles of the group if the motivation comes from our “social self”.
- The members of a group are defined according to their social identity. The members of the group are therefore considered to be interchangeable. For example, one person occupies the role of comic in many groups. It doesn’t matter who it is. The important thing is that someone, no matter who, takes the role of comedian.
- The degree to which we identify with the group will depend on the context. The changes will cause us to identify more or less. For example, if our sports team wins an important competition, our social identity (with this team) will be very strong. This identity will, however, become weaker as the days go by.
The fusion of identity
The relationship between the two types of identity has limits that cannot be explained without resorting to another identity. It is about identity fusion. It is defined as a visceral feeling of oneness with a group. Union with the group is so strong in people with a fused identity that the boundaries between personal identity and social identity become very permeable. What does that mean ? That even if one of the identities is activated, it can affect the other. For example, questioning our personality will lead people who merge their identity to defend their group.
This new relationship between the two identities leads to a strong sense of connection with the group. This encourages the motivation of the people who merge to do for the group the same thing they would do for themselves. Personal relationships with group members are also strengthened.
The principles of identity fusion
The main characteristics or principles of identity fusion are:
- The first principle is that of personal agency. He proposes that the actions of the merged people reflect both their personal and social identity. In this case, the members of the group would not be substitutable because their personality and their role within the group are valued.
- The second principle is that of identity synergy. This principle suggests that personal and social identity can be combined, giving rise to a strong motivation to do things for the benefit of the group. These people will be the first to collaborate and any flattery will encourage them to collaborate more personally and in groups.
- The third principle is that of relational ties. According to this principle, merged people, who have very strong personal and social identities, believe that other members of their group have them as well. They will also promote the members of the group for their personality and their social identity. It will create very strong relationships.
- Finally, we find the principle of irrevocability. Depending on finality, identity fusion will continue regardless of context. The bonds that we have formed with the other members of the group reinforce the feeling of fusion. Make it permanent. Merging only happens with one group even though we have multiple social identities. This exclusivity means that people refrain from developing strong identities with other groups, so that the merger is maintained.
To conclude. The relationships between personal identity and social identity are generally exclusive. Either one is activated. C ‘re identities are confused in some people, so that they are self-feeding by these people perform more things in favor of the group. Behaviors will therefore depend to a large extent on whether our identity is merged or not.
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