Connection to groups and communities is the sense of belonging and shared identity we feel when we’re part of a collective, whether it’s a:

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• neighborhood

• workplace

• faith community

• team

• cause

 

These connections arise not just from shared goals, but from shared values, mutual influence, and emotional resonance. Group connection is more than socializing; it’s the felt experience of being part of something bigger than oneself.

We build group and community connections through:

 

• everyday rituals

• synchronized activities

• collaborative efforts

• meaningful conversations

 

Belonging often emerges when we contribute to a group, share stories, or face challenges together. Whether through singing in a choir, attending a community event, participating in a volunteer project, or simply engaging with group traditions, these shared experiences create emotional bonds and social glue. 

Connection to groups and communities fulfills a fundamental human need: the desire to belong. These types of connection:

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• support emotional and physical well-being

• strengthen identity

• build resilience

• enhance life satisfaction

• aid in recovery

• foster empathy and cooperation across differences

 

Group connection also nurtures mattering; when people feel valued by and able to contribute to a collective, their motivation and sense of purpose grow. In an increasingly disconnected world, group connection can be a powerful antidote to isolation and fragmentation.

The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion by Dr. Jonathan Haidt

 

Moral Tribes: Emotion, Reason, and the Gap Between Us and Them by Dr. Joshua Greene