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Strength in numbers: A survival strategy that helps explain social bonding and commitment
1Department of Criminology & Criminal Justice,University of Alabama,Tuscaloosa, AL 35487.adam.lankford@ua.eduhttp://adamlankford.com.
The Behavioral and Brain Sciences
|May 9, 2019
Summary
Social bonds are for survival, yet we are drawn to self-sacrifice. Research indicates individuals in suicide attacks or cults may not truly die for their group, challenging the perceived altruism.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Evolutionary Biology
Background:
- Humans exhibit a strong drive for social connection and group cohesion for survival.
- Paradoxically, there is a fascination with extreme self-sacrifice, even when it contradicts survival instincts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the psychological underpinnings of attraction to intentional self-sacrifice.
- To examine the discrepancy between the perceived group benefit and the reality of self-sacrifice in specific populations.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on suicide terrorists, kamikaze pilots, and cult members.
- Analysis of psychological motivations and social dynamics in extreme group behaviors.
Main Results:
- The desire for protection within social bonds may fuel attraction to exaggerated self-sacrifice narratives.
- Evidence suggests individuals in high-risk groups may not be motivated by genuine group benefit.
Conclusions:
- The allure of self-sacrifice might stem from a misapplication of the desire for protection.
- Further research is needed to understand the complex interplay between social bonding and extreme behaviors.
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