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Chapter 11 - The Need to Belong

The Appeal, Benefits, and Dangers of QAnon and Similar Groups

from Part III - QAnon and Society

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 September 2023

By
Kelly-Ann Allen ,
Zoe A. Morris ,
Margaret L. Kern ,
Christopher Boyle  and
Caomhan McGlinchey
Edited by
Monica K. Miller
Monica K. Miller
Affiliation:
University of Nevada, Reno
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Summary

Humans have a deep longing and need for connection and a sense of belonging. Social groups provide safety, a sense of purpose, and identity, and fulfil the psychological need to belong. For many, that need is fulfilled through family, peers, co-workers and other pro-social institutions. But others struggle to find their place. The online space provides opportunities for people to connect with others, especially during times of physical disconnection yet it is vulnerable to misuse and manipulation. This chapter discusses the need for belonging, and how struggles to belong contribute to participation in anti-social groups such as gangs, cults, and conspiracy groups. Using QAnon as an example, this chapter illustrates how conspiracy groups provide a sense of community, as people find and create meaning around shared and constructed identities which can lead to personal and societal risks. The chapter demonstrates how the need for belonging intersects with various other factors, in potentially beneficial or detrimental ways.

Keywords

BelongingQAnonconspiracy groupsonline social identitysocial mediasearch for meaning
Type
Chapter
Information
The Social Science of QAnon
A New Social and Political Phenomenon
 , pp. 176 - 192
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2023

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