Sense of Belonging Definition: How to Promote Belongingness

Social belonging is the subjective feeling of inclusion or acceptance into a group of people. This sense of community or connectedness in a social group is a basic human need that individuals must satisfy to maintain their identity, physical well-being, and mental health.

A sense of belonging is one of several human needs the psychologist Abraham Maslow outlined in his 1943 paper, “A Theory of Human Motivation,” which became a foundational concept in his field.

Abraham Maslow, a social psychology professor from New York, determined a sense of belonging—along with several other factors, including safety, esteem, and self-actualization—was a powerful motivator of human behavior. In his 1943 essay, "A Theory of Human Motivation," he outlined the tenet that became “Maslow’s hierarchy of needs” in the field of psychology.

Maslow’s theory categorizes the physiological resources adults need to survive and the emotional resources they must acquire to develop their authentic selves. Professionals in psychology, psychiatry, sociology, and other scientific fields often illustrate Maslow's hierarchy as a pyramid, with physical survival needs near the essential base and self-actualization at the pinnacle. Love, self-esteem, and belonging usually fall in the middle of a Maslow’s hierarchy of needs pyramid.

A sense of belonging is crucial to a person’s physical and mental well-being. Consider these three reasons it’s important to feel like you belong to a group or community:

• A sense of belonging fosters opportunity for growth. According to the psychologist Abraham Maslow, individuals are often unable to pursue cognitive, aesthetic, and self-actualization needs until they have satisfied more basic ones—namely, their physiological, safety, belonging, and esteem needs. In other words, people who have met their basic needs (or deficiency needs) will, in theory, find themselves better equipped physically and mentally to grow to their full potential.
• Isolation can be life-threatening. Humans have long relied on communication and social cohesion to survive difficult times. While social identity fails to meet a need as fundamental as food or shelter, it’s still a predictor of survival in many situations. Consider how social isolation would present life-threatening challenges in a hunter-gatherer society. Even on many modern farms, humans work, hunt, and collect food in organized groups, sharing essential tasks and protecting one another from predators and enemies.
• Validation is necessary for mental health. Neurological chemistry motivates people to seek out social connection and rational validation in a support group—regardless of whether or not they live in a hunter-gatherer society. If a human denies this instinctual programming, they might experience decreases in physical and mental health.

Follow these simple guidelines to create a welcoming environment at your school or workplace:

• Encourage open dialogue without judgment. Provide opportunities for people to share their thoughts and feelings without fear of persecution or retaliation. Establish an open platform and give each member of a group adequate time and attention so they can voice their perspective. These sessions can lead to honest social interactions and improved team chemistry.
• Promote social support and special interest groups. People tend to gravitate toward people with similar hobbies and worldviews. Allow colleagues, coworkers, and college students to organize clubs and common interest groups. Increased engagement in these groups can bleed into the classroom or office and improve morale. This, in turn, can lead to an increase in talent retention and efficiency.
• Show respect and use inclusive language. Instruct children to use respectful language and strictly forbid any form of bullying. Alienation at an early age can be a significant contributing factor in the development of behavioral and social issues in high school and beyond. Organize school initiatives and campaigns to denounce bullying and improve your students' sense of belonging to an organization.

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