Empirical evidence supports the notion that individuals require and utilize non-aversive interactions with others. Additionally the belongingness hypothesis states that humans seek out frequent exchanges and relations with others, because belongingness possesses strong positive effects on one's mental health, social-cognitive processes, and emotional/self-regulation.

Scripps College

Understanding and successfully navigating group dynamics and relationships proved to be crucial to our ancestors’ survival. Individuals who understood how to adapt to a diverse variety of social settings were prosperous in their pursuit of reproducing and bestowing their genes on to future generations. Belonging to a group provides many advantages such as communal resources, safety, and support, therefore when individuals sense their connection to a group is being jeopardized, they experience anxiety and engage in forms of self-regulation.


The innate human desire to belong and be accepted

MR;, B. R. (n.d.). The need to belong: Desire for interpersonal attachments as a fundamental human motivation. Psychological bulletin. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7777651/ 

Fundamental Human Motivation to Belong and Maintain Interpersonal Relationships

Human Motivation to Maintain Interpersonal Attachments

Read the following scenario. Analyze the protagonist's actions by identifying the most probable underlying psychological drive and explaining the mechanism that connects this drive to their behavior.

Learn Before

Related