Perceived Group Continuity, Collective Self-Continuity, and In-Group Identification

The current research examined the proposition that particularly perceptions of essentialist (compared to narrativist) group continuity enhance group identification, because essentialist group continuity is more likely to satisfy the individual need for self-continuity. This prediction was tested in three studies, using the context of national identity. Study 1 confirmed that only essentialist (and not narrativist) group continuity increased group identification when experimentally induced. Studies 2 (survey) and 3 (experiment) explored the mediating role of collective self-continuity. As expected, it was found that people are more likely to identify with groups that are seen to possess essentialist continuity (compared to narrativist continuity), because these groups most strongly provide them with a feeling of self-continuity.