Exploration of the Promotion and Process Mechanisms of Identity Fusion on Intergroup Prosocial Behavior

The irreversible trend of world pluralism has made the promotion of benign intergroup relations an important issue. The fusion-security base hypothesis has hinted at the positive effects of identity fusion in moderate environments, but has not yet been supported by sufficient empirical evidence. Based on the rice theory, ecological validity was assessed to a certain extent utilizing China's northern and southern regions as group boundaries. In this paper, we explored the mechanisms underlying the effects of identity fusion on intergroup pro-social behavior from two psychological pathways: cognitive and emotional. Study 1 used questionnaires to measure the relationship between identity fusion and intergroup pro-social behavior in 607 participants, indicating that the level of identity fusion positively predicted intergroup pro-social behavior, and that group efficacy and empathy played parallel mediating roles between the two. Study 2 used a priming experiment to elicit the personal and social selves in identity fusion, and further clarified the process mechanism of their effects, showing that group efficacy partially mediated the relationship between identity fusion and intergroup pro-social behavior, and the mediating effect of empathy was not significant; the social self was more likely to promote intergroup pro-social behavior than the personal self. The article verifies the Fusion-Security Base Hypothesis, and reveals the need for scholars to pay attention to the constructive meaning of identity fusion in intergroup relations.