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How shared suffering bonded Britons witnessing the Queen's funeral.

Authors :
White C
Morales D
Xygalatas D
Hernu M
Mathiassen A
Ainsworth A
Geraty M
Bayindir N
Robinson B
Whitehouse H
Source :
Scientific reports [Sci Rep] 2024 Jul 18; Vol. 14 (1), pp. 16620. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Jul 18.
Publication Year :
2024

Abstract

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.<br /> (© 2024. This is a U.S. Government work and not under copyright protection in the US; foreign copyright protection may apply.)

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
2045-2322
Volume :
14
Issue :
1
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Scientific reports
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
39025862
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-66537-5