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Identity fusion “in the wild”: Moving toward or away from a general theory of identity fusion?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 December 2018

William B. Swann Jr.  and
Jolanda Jetten Open the ORCID record for Jolanda Jetten [Opens in a new window]
William B. Swann Jr.
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712. [email protected]://labs.la.utexas.edu/swann/
Jolanda Jetten
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, 4072 QLD, Australia. [email protected]
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Abstract

Whitehouse's focus on two causes of identity fusion (evolution and shared experiences/biology) deepens understanding of these specific topics. While we applaud his analysis, in his efforts to elaborate these two causes, he has – perhaps unavoidably – produced a narrower conceptualization of identity fusion. This is unfortunate because it undermines his stated goal of developing a more general, encompassing theory.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 41 , 2018 , e218
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2018 

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References

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