Need for Group Membership (N-memb)
One personality feature I've noticed that occurs in varying degrees is a
need for group membership. The closest thing I know of in personality psychology would be the
need for affiliation (N-affil), but need for affiliation is more of a need to connect. What I'm proposing is a need for group inclusion or membership ("N-memb").
Example: people with a high N-memb are the types of people who fear excommunication from a group. These groups can be religious (identifying with Christians), a psychological group (NTs), an academic group (as a scientist or skeptic), or political group (as a liberal or liberal-hater). I've found lots of people who are afraid of losing membership in these group. The stronger the attachment to (need for) membership, the more likely the person will show aggression towards opposing group members. For example, the religious people will battle with each other, the NTs will try and deprecate NFs, the skeptics will deride the believers, and the liberals will criticize the republicans and capitalists. I am pretty sure we could find a link between N-memb and social exclusion at a young age, and draw correlations with
attachment theory, specifically, fearful/anxious/avoidant with high N-memb and secure with low N-memb. In contrast to the high N-membs, the low N-membs would be comfortable not belonging to groups, challenging the groups, and standing alone. A good example might be religious iconoclasts. Buddha, OSHO, Abraham, Jesus to name a few. Holden Caufield comes to mind, too.
A few questions to tease out high N-membs from low N-membs:
1. I can't help but judge people when I find out they are members of political parties that differ from mine. (T/F)
2. I am much more comfortable talking to people who share my religious heritage than people who don't. (T/F)
3. I believe that my type is somewhat superior to other types. (T/F)
4. I often criticize people by referring to their psychological type. (T/F)
5. I often criticize people by referring to their political affiliation. (T/F)
6. I have volunteered or would consider volunteering for the political party I support. (T/F)
1 point for each True.