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Previous research suggests that sharing emotionally intense experiences with others, for example by undergoing dysphoric collective rituals together, can lead to “identity fusion,” a visceral feeling of oneness that predicts group cohesion and self-sacrifice for the group. In this pre-registered research, we provide the first quantitative investigation of identity fusion following participation in a national funeral, surveying 1632 members of the British public. As predicted, individuals reporting intense sadness during Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral exhibited higher levels of identity fusion and pro-group commitment, as evidenced by generosity pledges to a British Monarchist charity. Also consistent with our hypotheses, feelings of unity in grief and emotional sharedness during the event mediated the relationship between sadness intensity and pro-group commitment. These findings shed light on importance of collective rituals in fostering group cohesion, cooperation, and the dynamics of shared emotional experiences within communities.
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Claire White
California State University System
Danielle Moralès
California State University, Northridge
Dimitris Xygalatas
University of Connecticut
Scientific Reports
University of Oxford
Aarhus University
University of Connecticut
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White et al. (Thu,) studied this question.
synapsesocial.com/papers/68e5fda8b6db6435875911c3 — DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-66537-5