Fear of death and self-uncertainty motivate people to join groups

Evidence

Terror management theory posits that people are motivated to reduce fear of the inevitability of their own death, and that the consensual belief–confirmation provided by groups drives people to belong. The uncertainty–identity theory stipulates that people have a basic need to reduce uncertainty about themselves, their attributes, and their place in the world, and that cognitive processes associated with group identification reduce such uncertainty. — Roderick M. Kramer, Geoffrey J. Leonardelli, Robert W. Livingston, Social Cognition, Social Identity, and…, 2338

Categorization

• XREF: Terror management recalls cultural worldview-defense research and connects to fear-based identity politics. — connects to: Survivors helped others even while still perceiving a real danger of death — John Drury, The role of social identity processes…, 67; Shared danger makes people feel close to strangers and motivates mutual help. — John Drury, The role of social identity processes…, 74; Shared danger of death heightens unity among strangers in an emergency. — John Drury and Chris Cocking and Steve Reicher, Everyone for themselves? A comparative…, 104 (+4 more)