Motivations to identify with social groups: A look at their positive and negative consequences.

Social Identification in Sports Teams

“…Our finding that the satisfaction of personal identity efficacy uniquely predicted group identification supports the proposal that efficacy is an important individual-level motive for group identity processes (Amiot & Sansfaçon, 2011). This influence of personal identity efficacy may also be particularly true for sports teams, as "self-efficacy" has been…”

“…A more recent motivational expansion of SIT proposes that national identification is motivated by a need for self-continuity (Smeekes & Verkuyten, 2013). Lastly, although not directly synonymous with identity motives, research into self-determination theory (Deci & Ryan, 1985) has suggested that satisfaction of personal needs for autonomy and competence can impact on group identification (e.g., Amiot & Sansfaçon, 2011).…”

Is Intrinsic Motivation Better Than Extrinsic Motivation?

“…There is an internal desire, or what some researchers refer to as an "obsessive passion" or obsessive need, to identify with a group (Amiot and Sansfacon 2011;Vallerand et al 2003;Yampolsky and Amiot 2013). As we stated earlier in Chapter 2, there is a "need to belong" (Baumeister and Leary 1995); such a need can be healthy and good, unless it becomes obsessive.…”

“…The same is true with group affiliation. There is an internal need or desire to be part of a group (Amiot and Sansfacon 2011). Fulfilling such a need can be positive and good, unless the desire for group affiliation becomes an uncontrollable, almost desperate, drive that can only be satisfied through group affiliation.…”

“…Such obsessive behavior can lead to in-group bias, prejudice, negativity, unhealthy risktaking, and inflexible persistence (Amiot and Sansfacon 2011). Gambling, bullying, gangs, drug addiction, alcohol, Internet obsession, texting, any form of prejudice (racial, age, gender, sexual orientation), or other addiction can become an "obsessive passion.…”