How to Increase Your Sense of Belonging

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSense of Belonging in ActionEffect of the Sense of BelongingIncrease Your Sense of Belonging

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Sense of Belonging in Action

Effect of the Sense of Belonging

Increase Your Sense of Belonging

The need to belong to a group also can lead to changes in behaviors, beliefs, andattitudesas people strive to conform to the standards and norms of the group.

Insocial psychology, the need to belong is anintrinsic motivationto affiliate with others and be socially accepted.This need plays a role in a number of social phenomena such as self-presentation andsocial comparison.

What inspires people to seek out specific groups? In many cases, the need to belong to certain social groups results from sharing some point of commonality. For example, teens who share the same taste in clothing, music, and other interests might seek each other out to form friendships. Other factors that can lead individuals to seek out groups include:

People often present themselves in a particular way in order to belong to a specific social group. For example, a new member of a high school sports team might adopt the dress and mannerisms of the other members of the team in order to fit in with the rest of the group.

People also spend a great deal of time comparing themselves to other members of the group in order to determine how well they fit in. This social comparison might lead an individual to adopt some of the same behaviors and attitudes of the most prominent members of the group in order toconformand gain greater acceptance.

Our need to belong is what drives us to seek out stable,long-lasting relationshipswith other people.It also motivates us to participate in social activities such as clubs, sports teams, religious groups, and community organizations.

In Abraham Maslow’shierarchy of needs, the sense of belongingness is part of one of his major needs that motivate human behavior. The hierarchy is usually portrayed as a pyramid, with more basic needs at the base and more complex needs near the peak. The need for love and belonging lie at the center of the pyramid as part of social needs.

By belonging to a group, we feel as if we are a part of something bigger and more important than ourselves.

While Maslow suggested that these needs were less important than physiological and safety needs, he believed that the need for belonging helped people to experience companionship and acceptance through family, friends, and other relationships.

A 2020 study on college students found a positive link between a sense of belonging and greater happiness and overall well-being, as well as an overall reduction in mental health outcomes including:

How do we create a sense of belonging? There are steps you (or a loved one who is struggling) can take to increase the sense of belonging.

A Word From Verywell

A sense of belonging is a crucial for good physical and mental health. If you continue to struggle with loneliness or the sense of not fitting in, talk to your doctor or mental health professional. They can help you to identify the root of your feelings and provide strategies for achieving belongingness.

5 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Schneider ML, Kwan BM.Psychological need satisfaction, intrinsic motivation and affective response to exercise in adolescents.Psychol Sport Exerc. 2013;14(5):776–785. doi:10.1016/j.psychsport.2013.04.005Pillow DR, Malone GP, Hale WJ.The need to belong and its association with fully satisfying relationships: A tale of two measures.Pers Individ Dif. 2015;74:259-264. doi:10.1016/j.paid.2014.10.031Kenrick DT, Griskevicius V, Neuberg SL, Schaller M.Renovating the pyramid of needs: Contemporary extensions built upon ancient foundations.Perspect Psychol Sci. 2010;5(3):292–314. doi:10.1177/1745691610369469Moeller RW, Seehuus M, Peisch V.Emotional intelligence, belongingness, and mental health in college students.Front Psychol. 2020;11:93. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00093Fisher LB, Overholser JC, Ridley J, Braden A, Rosoff C.From the outside looking in: sense of belonging, depression, and suicide risk.Psychiatry. 2015;78(1):29-41. doi: 10.1080/00332747.2015.1015867

5 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Schneider ML, Kwan BM.Psychological need satisfaction, intrinsic motivation and affective response to exercise in adolescents.Psychol Sport Exerc. 2013;14(5):776–785. doi:10.1016/j.psychsport.2013.04.005Pillow DR, Malone GP, Hale WJ.The need to belong and its association with fully satisfying relationships: A tale of two measures.Pers Individ Dif. 2015;74:259-264. doi:10.1016/j.paid.2014.10.031Kenrick DT, Griskevicius V, Neuberg SL, Schaller M.Renovating the pyramid of needs: Contemporary extensions built upon ancient foundations.Perspect Psychol Sci. 2010;5(3):292–314. doi:10.1177/1745691610369469Moeller RW, Seehuus M, Peisch V.Emotional intelligence, belongingness, and mental health in college students.Front Psychol. 2020;11:93. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00093Fisher LB, Overholser JC, Ridley J, Braden A, Rosoff C.From the outside looking in: sense of belonging, depression, and suicide risk.Psychiatry. 2015;78(1):29-41. doi: 10.1080/00332747.2015.1015867

Schneider ML, Kwan BM.Psychological need satisfaction, intrinsic motivation and affective response to exercise in adolescents.Psychol Sport Exerc. 2013;14(5):776–785. doi:10.1016/j.psychsport.2013.04.005Pillow DR, Malone GP, Hale WJ.The need to belong and its association with fully satisfying relationships: A tale of two measures.Pers Individ Dif. 2015;74:259-264. doi:10.1016/j.paid.2014.10.031Kenrick DT, Griskevicius V, Neuberg SL, Schaller M.Renovating the pyramid of needs: Contemporary extensions built upon ancient foundations.Perspect Psychol Sci. 2010;5(3):292–314. doi:10.1177/1745691610369469Moeller RW, Seehuus M, Peisch V.Emotional intelligence, belongingness, and mental health in college students.Front Psychol. 2020;11:93. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00093Fisher LB, Overholser JC, Ridley J, Braden A, Rosoff C.From the outside looking in: sense of belonging, depression, and suicide risk.Psychiatry. 2015;78(1):29-41. doi: 10.1080/00332747.2015.1015867

Pillow DR, Malone GP, Hale WJ.The need to belong and its association with fully satisfying relationships: A tale of two measures.Pers Individ Dif. 2015;74:259-264. doi:10.1016/j.paid.2014.10.031

Kenrick DT, Griskevicius V, Neuberg SL, Schaller M.Renovating the pyramid of needs: Contemporary extensions built upon ancient foundations.Perspect Psychol Sci. 2010;5(3):292–314. doi:10.1177/1745691610369469

Moeller RW, Seehuus M, Peisch V.Emotional intelligence, belongingness, and mental health in college students.Front Psychol. 2020;11:93. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00093

Fisher LB, Overholser JC, Ridley J, Braden A, Rosoff C.From the outside looking in: sense of belonging, depression, and suicide risk.Psychiatry. 2015;78(1):29-41. doi: 10.1080/00332747.2015.1015867

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