Misfortune, Cohesion, and Resilience

Strand 1: Rallying Through the Rubble in Turkey

Research Team: Sevgi Demiroglu, Claire White, Dimitris Xygalatas, Danielle Morales, Andrew Ainsworth and Harvey Whitehouse.

Previous research suggests that the perception of shared emotion associated with personally transformative events can foster a strong form of social bonding known as ‘identity fusion, which motivates pro-group action.

Our research tests predictions from this model among Turkish citizens and Syrian refugees following the catastrophic earthquakes in Turkey on February 6th, 2023. We collected data in person from Turkish earthquake survivors in the most heavily affected areas 3-months after the first earthquake. In line with our predictions, mean levels of identity fusion significantly increased with perceived shared suffering for both Turkish and Syrian groups. Further, identity fusion predicted prosocial commitment, measured by the expressed willingness of earthquake survivors to volunteer assistance to disaster victims. Remarkably, participants were as likely to pledge help to other Turkish earthquake survivors as they were to their own families. This research contributes to a growing understanding of how shared suffering facilitates group bonding and cooperation, both within and across social groups.

Strand 2: Britons Bond After Queen Elizabeth II’s Funeral

Research Team: Claire White, Danielle Morales, Dimitris Xygalatas, Mathilde Hernu, Anna Mathiassen, Andrew Ainsworth, Meara Geraty, Nisa Bayindir, Brooke Robinson & Harvey Whitehouse.

We provide the first quantitative investigation of identity fusion following participation in a national funeral, surveying members of the British public over multiple time points, from a few days after the funeral ceremony to over six months later. 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 and volunteerism to a British Monarchist charity. Over time, reflection enhanced personal identity transformation and its perceived sharedness among co-attendees. 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 the importance of collective rituals in fostering group cohesion, cooperation, and the dynamics of shared emotional experiences within communities.

Strand 3: Misfortune, Cohesion, and Resilience: Collective Mourning at Pope Francis’s Funeral

Research Team: Claire White, Dimitris Xygalatas, Mathilde Hernu, and Harvey Whitehouse

When influential figures pass away, public mourning rituals often draw enormous numbers of participants who collectively experience grief, solidarity, and reflection. But how do these emotionally charged rituals impact the generosity and social cohesion of attendees? Our research explores these questions through a study conducted at Pope Francis’s funeral.

This research has broader implications for understanding the social power of funerary rituals. By exploring whether and how collective mourning translates into pro-social behaviors, we can better grasp how rituals foster unity, cooperation, and resilience in communities during times of profound loss. Our findings can inform policies and practices aimed at enhancing social cohesion through collective emotional experiences.

Ultimately, this research deepens our understanding of how collective rituals shape human behavior, generosity, and social connectedness. Our findings can inform policies and practices aimed at leveraging the power of religious cohesion to address global problems, such as the climate crisis.