Belongingness
Belongingness is the human need to be accepted in a group. We have an inherent desire to belong and be a part of something greater than ourselves. The motive to belong is the need for strong, stable relationships with others. More than a simple acquaintance or familiarity, the need to belong is the need to give and receive affection from others.
Abraham Maslow said the need to belong is a source of motivation. He says after physiological and safety needs are met, individuals work on the need to belong and be loved.
Others theorize we all need a minimum of regular, satisfying, social interactions. Inability to meet the need results in loneliness and a strong desire to form new relationships. We in western society do not arrive our sense of belonging from an instinctive, primitive tribal membership. We still protect members of the group and want to belong to groups.
To be accepted in a group, some may conceal part of their personality. This impressing is self-presentation, an effort to present your best side forward. In business, people may not reveal a funny side, but present a professional manner to impress.
People join groups with commonalities, a sense of humor, clothes style, socioeconomic status. Generally, people seek out those most similar to themselves. People like to feel they can relate to someone, those similar to them give them that feeling. People also like those they understand and who they think can understand them.
Wikipedia
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