¿Por qué morir por un hermano?la asociación positiva entre la fusión de identidad y la pérdida imaginada con la disposición al autosacrificio

  1. Alexandra Vázquez 1
  2. Juan R. Ordoñana 2
  3. Harvey Whitehouse 3
  4. Ángel Gómez 1
  1. 1 Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia
    info

    Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia

    Madrid, España

    ROR https://ror.org/02msb5n36

  2. 2 Universidad de Murcia
    info

    Universidad de Murcia

    Murcia, España

    ROR https://ror.org/03p3aeb86

  3. 3 University of Oxford
    info

    University of Oxford

    Oxford, Reino Unido

    ROR https://ror.org/052gg0110

Journal:
International Journal of Social Psychology, Revista de Psicología Social

ISSN: 0213-4748 1579-3680

Year of publication: 2019

Issue Title: Los procesos metacognitivos de separación del propio pensamiento : una visión general ilustrativa

Volume: 34

Issue: 3

Pages: 425-438

Type: Article

DOI: 10.1080/02134748.2019.1639343 DIALNET GOOGLE SCHOLAR

More publications in: International Journal of Social Psychology, Revista de Psicología Social

Sustainable development goals

Abstract

Identity fusion — a visceral feeling of connection with a group — is a powerful predictor of willingness to engage in extreme pro-group behaviour. Here we propose that identity fusion also reinforces willingness to fight and die for one’s siblings, and we explore one of the underlying mechanisms producing this effect. We additionally controlled for a powerful predictor of family investment, perceived psychological similarity with the sibling. Our study shows that fusion with a sibling, but not perceived similarity, is positively associated with willingness to fight and die for the sibling. This relation is mediated by the imagined personal consequences of losing one’s sibling. This research extends previous work on fusion with groups to pairs of individuals and identifies a new mediator of the effect of fusion on willingness to fight and die for others. Overall, these results suggest that identity fusion might contribute towards explaining self-sacrifice among genetically related individuals as predicted by the theory of kin selection.

Funding information

This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities [grant number RTI2018-098576-A-I00 and grant number RTI2018-093550-B-I00], the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiviness [grant number PSI2014-56680-R], the Séneca Foundation [grant number 19479/PI/14] and the UK’s Economic and Social Research Council [grant number RES-060-25- 0085]. / Este trabajo ha sido financiado con la ayuda del Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades [proyecto RTI2018-098576-A-I00 y proyecto RTI2018-093550-B-I00], el Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad [proyecto PSI2014-56680-R], la Fundación Séneca [programa 19479/PI/14] y el Consejo de Investigación Económica y Social del Reino Unido [RES-060-25-0085].

Funders

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