Breaking social bonds: from hypothetical to real reasons for defusion

Introduction Identity fusion was originally formulated as a visceral feeling of oneness with a group that motivates individuals to make extraordinary self-sacrifices on its behalf. This investigation aims to examine the reasons that could motivate, that is, hypothetical, or that motivated, that is, real, defusion, depending on the group's nature, and explore whether the mechanisms of defusion observed in ordinary groups extend to other groups that have exercised different types of collective violence, such as current hooligan group members and former insurgent group members. Methods Three studies using participants from the general population indicated three main reasons for defusion: degrading relational ties (i.e., sentiments toward individual group members), degrading collective ties (i.e., sentiments toward the group as a whole), and external factors (i.e., beyond individuals' control). Studies 1 and 2 examined hypothetical defusion in the future in local (i.e., small, direct-contact groups) and extended groups (i.e., large, indirect-contact groups; Study 1), as well as in ascribed (i.e., not freely chosen) and chosen groups (Study 2). Study 3 examined real motives for defusion in the past. An additional exploratory study with members of a hooligan group (Riazor Blues) in Spain explored hypothetical causes of defusion (Study 4), and a final exploratory study with former Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam members examined real reasons for defusion (Study 5). Results Studies 1 and 2 revealed that degrading relational ties was the main reason for hypothetical defusion in the future, no matter whether the group was local or extended, and ascribed or chosen. Degrading relational ties, together with external factors, emerged as the main real motive for defusion in the past (Study 3). The exploratory study with members of Riazor Blues replicated the main role of degrading relational ties as a hypothetical cause of defusion, although the results indicated that, for a quarter of them, defusion was unfeasible (Study 4). The study with former Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam members revealed that external factors were their primary real reason for defusion (Study 5). Discussion Apparently, while degrading relational ties seems to be the most relevant hypothetical reason for defusion, external factors play a more relevant role for the real reasons for defusion, in particular for those who were involved in collective violence.