Group identity satisfies basic psychological needs for belonging, distinctiveness, and meaning.

Evidence

To summarize, collective identity is a more inclusive self-definition that is focused on a particular group membership. In combination with several mediating social psychological processes (e.g., stereotyping, conformity, prejudice, and discrimination), it serves important functions related to basic psychological needs (e.g., belongingness, distinctiveness, respect, understanding, and agency) and thus contributes ultimately to a meaningful social existence. — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 4406

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to the needs-based account of identity that shows up again in later chapters and echoes earlier social identity theory material (belongingness, distinctiveness, meaning). — connects to: Humans balance opposing needs for belonging and uniqueness through group identification. — Anna X. Huang, Jacqueline M. Chen, and Juliane Degner, Being One or the Other, Both or…, 96
• DEFINE: Provides a compact working definition of collective identity and its function.