People join entitative groups to restore a universal need for certainty

Evidence

Uncertainty reduction theory postulates that humans have a universal need for certainty that stems from our desire to live in predictable and tractable environments (Hogg, 2000). When this need is not met, we search for ways to fulfill it. One way to achieve this aim is by attaching ourselves to groups of individuals that provide us with a greater degree of certainty. Groups that are high in entitativity are especially likely to provide this sense of certainty because they possess stable underlying properties, promote clarity in social representations, and facilitate the sense that one is part of a group that has a real existence. — Roderick M. Kramer, Geoffrey J. Leonardelli, Robert W. Livingston, Social Cognition, Social Identity, and…, 254 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

Additionally, identification with a social group is more effective for reducing uncertainty if the social group is perceived as highly entitative. Entitativity of a group is higher if it has clear boundaries, a clear structure, common goals and fate, if its members are perceived to be similar, and there is direct interaction among them (Hogg 2004, Lickel et al. 2000). — Anna X. Huang, Jacqueline M. Chen, and Juliane Degner, Being One or the Other, Both or Neither, 85 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: People seek certainty and belonging in natural and historic sites — Freeman Tilden, Interpreting Our Heritage, 156; Uncertainty reduction pushes Mixed individuals toward whichever group offers the clearest prototype — Anna X. Huang, Jacqueline M. Chen, and Juliane Degner, Being One or the Other, Both or…, 86; Uncertainty reduction may push mixed-race people toward the most entitative available group. — Anna X. Huang, Jacqueline M. Chen, and Juliane Degner, Being One or the Other, Both or…, 94 (+6 more)

Broader Connections

• Uncertainty drives people to attach to highly entitative groups #corroborates (0.97) — Roderick M. Kramer, Geoffrey J. Leonardelli, Robert W. Livingston, Social Cognition, Social Identity, and…, 254
• Groups perceived as entitative reduce members’ self-concept uncertainty most effectively #corroborates (0.92) — Anna X. Huang, Jacqueline M. Chen, and Juliane Degner, Being One or the Other, Both or Neither, 85