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: Understanding Misfortune: Causal Reasoning, End-of-Life Decisions, and Grief

Research Team: Claire White, Hannah Lunkenheimer, Emilio J. C. Lobato, Katrina Hill, Brian Kravette & Crystal L. Park.

In moments of crisis, people search for explanations to make sense of suffering, loss, and mortality. These explanations may be rooted in natural causes, such as medical or social factors, or in supernatural beliefs, including religious or spiritual interpretations. Many individuals integrate both perspectives—a process known as explanatory coexistence—which shapes how they navigate critical decisions and process grief.

Through semi-structured interviews, we examine how personal and doctrinal beliefs influence preferences for curative treatments, perceptions of hope, and experiences of loss. This study takes place in Los Angeles. As one of the most religiously and ethnically diverse cities in the United States, LA serves as a hybrid space where wild traditions—fluid, personal, and experiential beliefs—intersect with doctrinal traditions—structured, institutionalized systems of faith. This unique environment provides a rich setting to explore how individuals draw from multiple belief frameworks to interpret and cope with misfortune. By investigating how individuals and communities make sense of loss, this research offers deeper insight into resilience, meaning-making, and the role of belief in shaping responses to life’s most profound challenges.