8 minute read
The Science of Belonging
from FLUX 2019
People have an intrinsic need to belong and feel connected to the world in many different ways. Some people know where they belong from a young age. But for others, it becomes a lifelong search for the last five months. FLUX interviewed people on what it means to belong here are their stories.
The Need to Belong
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Humans inherently try to find others who share the same passions that fire up their souls and give them purpose. Finding this community of people who share similar goals and beliefs can help you along your journey to becoming the person you want to be. Belonging comes in various forms, and sometimes it is how one finds a sense of self.
The percentage of adults who spends a social evening with a neighbor at least several times a week dropped from 30 percent to 19 percent between 1974 and 2016.
Young people join gangs for reasons that include the need for protection, a desire for money and a search for belonging, researching and law enforcement officials say, "Some of them view [a gang] as a family," says Matthew Armstrong, a former member of the police department's gang task force in Prince William County, Virginia.
Women receive 30 percent of stem degrees even though they earn roughly the same number of undergraduate degrees as men.
Women receive 30 percent of stem degrees even though they earn roughly the same number of undergraduate degrees as men.
78 percent of teen online gamers say that playing games makes them feel more connected to friends they already know. Amounting to 42 percent of all teens ages 13 to 17.
One half of Americans have engaged in some form of political or civic-minded activity through social media in the previous year.
61 percent of adults in the United States use social networking sites.
Black people are more likely than Hispanics or Asians - and much more likely than whites - -to say that their race is central to their identity.
Black people are more likely than Hispanics or Asians - and much more likely than whites - -to say that their race is central to their identity.
Comparable shares of Republicans (37 percent) and Democrats (36 percent) say a major reason they identify with their own party is that they have little in common with members of the opposing party.
Through the Years
What it means to belong in American society has evolved over the centuries. What drives the need to belong has shifted a great deal since the 1800s. Society's focus was once entirely on family and having children. Today, the focus has shifted to individualism and technology. This shift shows how quickly values can change in society and what is considered important changes over time.
1800s: Americans lived in rural towns and joined groups that contributed to community life and political debate. Families were large and served as vital support networks for generations. Married couples typically had at least 7 children, with one who would care for the ages parents.
1900s: Residents of rural communities moved to cities during World War 1 and World War 2 when factory jobs were plentiful.
1950: Americans had become less focused on family and more focused on the behaviors and attitudes of their peers and mass media. About 4 million Americans were living alone in 1950, which was equivalent to a little less than 10 percent of households.
1969: Some believed that there was a peak of participation in American society, while others felt 'very lonely or remote from other people.'
1972: More than 35 percent of population was moving each year, and a typical junior executive moved 15 times in 20 years. Frequent moves did not allow for communities and friendships to form.
1980s: It was believed that the large urban settings people moved to were the culprit of their unhappiness. People began to grow more toward reliant on technology. New York times health editor Jane Brody declared loneliness a "national epidemic."
1994: U.S. Census data revealed that the 19th century tendency of extended families to live together and the nation's history of maintaining strong family ties had disappeared.
2000s: A quarter of American households consisted of one person, and birth rates had dropped to an average of 2.4 children per woman. These statistics were attributed to more women working outside of the home, greater mobility, a lower marriage rate and technological changes, such as the rise in popularity of video games. Lawmakers began taking some interest in tackling the issue of loneliness. They began to explore ways to combat isolation and loneliness. A report released in May 2017 found that citizen participation had generally declined over time in community organizations - including family, churches, schools and civil associations.
People Who Feel Like They Don't Belong
- Natalie Maestretti
- Marisa Campo
- Michael Hampton
- Bryer Hataishi
Belongingness | The need to feel accepted by loved ones, society and yourself.
Intermarriage Belonging | Being included in marital customs and activities that may differ from one's own culture.
Racial Belonging | Sharing the same culture, history and language with others.
Technological Belonging | Using social media to increase social capital and one's sense of belonging.
People Who Feel Like They Do Belong
- Bryer Hataishi
- Michael Hampton
- Jennifer Mendez
- Natalie Maestretti
- Sabrina Murillo
Religious Belonging | sharing and practicing spirutality with others.
Political Belonging | Advocating for a party and social movements that project like-minded beliefs.
Gaming Belonging | A sense of loyalty people feel with others whom they may not even know; all striving to complete a similar mission or goal.
Gender Belonging | Allowing for increased representation of women and people of color in male-dominated fields like STEM.
The Desire to Fit in is Only Human
Everyone wants to feel like they belong. Belonging is an innate fundamental need for humans. The human brain is essentially wired to make connections and form relationships with others. On Maslow's hierarchy of needs, the sense of belonging is imperative to one's success, satisfaction and overall fulfillment. It is ranked right above being safe and looking out for one's own health and well-being. It is part of the human identity. To get a deeper understanding of the dynamics of belonging, Flux interviewed four University of Oregon professors. Here's what they said:
Marion Goloman
University of Oregon, professor emeritus, Sociology
"There are different components of religion. There is belief practice and experience. A shared practice, belief or experience with others confirms a world view that you're not alone - that, in fact, religion and spirituality are inevitably interactions because people are trying to approach a sense of holiness."
Jessica Vasquez-Tokos
University of Oregon, associate professor, Sociology
"I can't say for sure where that [need to belong] comes from but I do know that in terms of meaning-making and social group boundary making, there are processes of boundary marking and in-groupness that are always at work. That's also where you start to see inequalities emerge - where one group has more than the other, so then you see groups either amassing resources, while other groups may be amassing cumulative disadvantages."
Gerard Saucier
University of Oregon, professor, Psychology
"Relatedness is the psychological need to establish close emotional bonds and attachments with other people. It reflects the desire to be emotionally connected and interpersonally involved in warm relationships. That's why interacting with sales personnel at big box stores wouldn't help because it's not warm and there's not an emotional connection."
Holly Arrow
University of Oregon, professor, Psychology
"Because humans are a social species, the need for belonging helps keep us attached to our groups. Isolated humans are vulnerable. Belonging feels good. It helps keep us safe. The need for belonging also motivates us to conform to the norms our group endorses, so that we are not rejected. Norms are useful because they help coordinate social life. Violating norms can lead to rejection and isolation, which thwarts our need to belong and feels bad. If our species was not so heavily committed to living in groups as a strategy for survival, being rejected probably wouldn't hurt and we wouldn't try so hard to avoid it."
