Fusion Of Identity, Relationship Between Personal And Social Sphere

Identity fusion is an interaction between different types of identities. In fact, each of us has at least two identities, one personal and one (or more) social. Personal identity is directly linked to our personality, so we can show ourselves more or less extroverted, kind, nervous, etc. It is therefore composed of several traits that distinguish and identify us.

Social identity, on the other hand, corresponds to the group to which we belong, for example family, country, religion, ethnicity, team, etc. These groups have rules, values ​​and roles. When different types of identities interact, we speak of a fusion of identities .

How do we behave? Do we respond to our personality or do we stick to the rules of the group? It depends on the type of identity we have activated: generally it is the personal one, so we behave according to our personality.

Sometimes, however, the group is more important, so our behavior will depend on the role we play within it and its rules in certain situations, for example when it feels threatened.

Identity integration problems

The relationship between personal and social identity involves some problems:

• Motivation activates our behaviors. On the one hand, if the motivation depends on our “personal self”, the behavior will reflect our personality. On the other hand, if the motivation comes from our “social self”, the behavior will be determined by the rules and roles of the group.

• The members of a group define themselves as a function of their social identity. Therefore, they are thought to be interchangeable. For example, in many groups a person plays the role of the sympathetic one and, as a member of a group, it does not matter whether it is one person or another. The important thing is that someone, regardless of who, occupies the role of the sympathetic.

• The degree to which we identify with the group depends on the context and changes. For example, if our team wins an important match, our social identity (with that team) will be very strong. However, as the days go by it will become weaker.

The fusion of identity

The relationship between the different types of identity has limits that cannot be explained except by resorting to another identity, the fusion of identity, defined as a visceral feeling of union with the group. In people who have this type of identity, the union with the group is so strong that the boundaries between personal and social identity are permeable.

What does it mean? It means that, once one of the two identities is activated, it can influence the other. For example, if our personality is questioned, we tend to merge our identities and defend the group.

This new relationship between identities establishes a strong sense of connection with the group which, in turn, fuels the motivation of people with fused identities to do for the group what they would do for themselves. At the same time, personal bonds with group members are strengthened.

Principles of identity fusion

There are four main characteristics or principles of identity blending:

• The first principle concerns personal activity, whereby the actions of people with fused identities reflect both their personal and social identities. In this case, the members of the group would not be replaceable because their personality and their role within the group are valued.

• The second principle is the synergy of identity which suggests that any combination of personal and social identity can give rise to a strong motivation to carry out actions for the benefit of the group. These people are the first to collaborate and success will lead them to engage more personally and as a group.

• The third principle corresponds to relational ties. According to this characteristic, people with fused identities have very strong social and personal identities and are convinced that this also applies to the other members of the group. They value others for their personality and social identity, therefore they establish very strong relational bonds.

• The last principle is that of irrevocability. Based on irrevocability, identity merging is preserved regardless of context. The bonds that are formed with the other members of the group reinforce the feeling of fusion making it permanent. In the presence of various social identities, fusion occurs only with one group. This form of exclusivity prevents the development of strong identities with other groups and ensures that the merger is maintained.

Ultimately, in general, personal and social identities tend to be excluded when one of the two is activated. Some people, however, blend and nurture each other, prompting them to commit themselves to the group. As a result, our behaviors depend to a great extent on an eventual merger of identities.