Glossary / Lexicon

Deutsch: Solidarität / Español: Solidaridad / Português: Solidariedade / Français: Solidarité / Italiano: Solidarietà

Solidarity in psychology refers to a shared sense of unity, support, and mutual commitment among individuals or groups, often driven by shared goals, values, or social identities. This psychological construct is essential for fostering empathy, cooperation, and resilience, especially in times of crisis or challenge.

Description

In psychology, solidarity is recognised as a powerful social and emotional bond that encourages individuals to support one another. This sense of collective unity often emerges from shared experiences, values, or objectives, promoting behaviours like cooperation, empathy, and mutual aid. Psychologically, solidarity builds social connections, strengthens group identity, and enhances personal well-being by creating a sense of belonging and shared purpose. For example, solidarity can be seen in group efforts to address social injustice, community support during natural disasters, or collective mental health support initiatives.

From a social psychology perspective, solidarity is related to concepts like social identity theory and in-group dynamics, which explain how people’s self-concepts are tied to their group memberships. Individuals are more likely to show solidarity with others who share similar identities or face common challenges, as they perceive these shared elements as meaningful aspects of their own lives. The feeling of solidarity can foster prosocial behaviour, as people feel motivated to help and advocate for those with whom they feel connected. Additionally, solidarity can function as a coping mechanism, offering emotional support and reducing the impact of stressors on mental health.

Research on solidarity also explores its role in social movements, collective action, and group resilience. During times of crisis, solidarity enables communities to come together and collectively manage stress, trauma, or other challenges, which can be psychologically protective for individuals. Solidarity has been associated with psychological resilience, where social bonds and a sense of collective efficacy enhance the capacity of individuals and communities to recover and thrive after adversity.

Historically, solidarity has been a fundamental component in social and political movements aimed at change and justice. Psychological studies highlight how solidarity often leads to empowerment, helping individuals feel more confident and effective in creating change when working together with others who share their goals.

Application Areas

Solidarity plays a crucial role across multiple areas within psychology:

• Social Psychology: Studies solidarity as a mechanism of social identity, group dynamics, and prosocial behaviour, particularly in the context of social movements and collective action.
• Community Psychology: Explores how solidarity within communities contributes to collective well-being, resilience, and social support.
• Health Psychology: Investigates how solidarity can influence health behaviours, such as mutual support in chronic illness management or community health initiatives.
• Organisational Psychology: Examines solidarity among colleagues, particularly in the form of team cohesion and workplace support, which enhances job satisfaction and reduces burnout.
• Clinical Psychology: Focuses on how solidarity-based group therapy, support groups, or community networks can help individuals cope with trauma, anxiety, and other mental health challenges.
• Educational Psychology: Encourages solidarity among students, fostering cooperative learning and a sense of belonging within educational environments.

Well-Known Examples

• Social Movements: Solidarity is central to movements for social justice, where individuals unite to advocate for equality, human rights, and systemic change.
• Community Support during Crises: Following natural disasters or public health crises, solidarity enables communities to mobilise resources, provide aid, and support recovery efforts.
• Support Groups for Mental Health: Support groups, such as those for addiction recovery, create solidarity by fostering mutual understanding and shared experience, which strengthens individual resilience.
• Employee Solidarity: In organisational settings, solidarity among employees, such as through union efforts or peer support networks, improves work satisfaction and fosters a supportive workplace culture.
• Educational Initiatives: Solidarity in educational contexts, where students and teachers work together to support learning and well-being, fosters a positive school environment and strengthens group cohesion.

Risks and Challenges

While solidarity brings significant psychological benefits, it can also present risks and challenges. Group solidarity, when too intense, may lead to groupthink, where dissenting opinions are suppressed in favour of maintaining unity, potentially resulting in poor decision-making. Additionally, strong in-group solidarity can foster out-group bias or exclusion, where individuals outside the group are viewed with distrust or hostility. This dynamic can be seen in highly polarised social or political groups, where intense solidarity within the group contributes to increased division or conflict with others.

Furthermore, individuals in solidarity-based groups may experience pressure to conform to group norms, which can be psychologically stressful if their personal views differ from the collective. In some cases, solidarity can create feelings of responsibility or guilt if individuals feel they are unable to contribute or participate fully, which may impact their mental health.

Similar Terms

• Social Cohesion: The bonds that bring members of a society or group together, often associated with a sense of solidarity.
• Collective Efficacy: The shared belief that a group can work together to achieve common goals, often strengthened by solidarity.
• Prosocial Behaviour: Actions intended to benefit others, which are often motivated by a sense of solidarity.
• Empathy: The ability to understand and share the feelings of others, which is foundational to solidarity.
• In-Group Dynamics: The psychological processes and behaviours that occur within a group, contributing to solidarity and group loyalty.

Articles with 'Solidarity' in the title

• Intergenerational solidarity: Intergenerational solidarity is the closeness and commitment within parent-child and grandparent-grandchild relationships.

Summary

In psychology, solidarity represents a powerful sense of unity, support, and shared purpose among individuals or groups, often leading to cooperative and prosocial behaviours. Whether in social movements, community support networks, or mental health initiatives, solidarity helps foster resilience, mutual empathy, and a sense of belonging. While solidarity brings many benefits, it also poses challenges, particularly when strong in-group bonds create bias or pressure to conform. Overall, solidarity plays a vital role in promoting both individual and collective well-being.

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