S u m m a r y

Anttila J (1997)

Motives for identification with a nation

Psykologia 32/2 (84-92). Rauma ISSN 0355-1067.

 

National identity can be societal-culturally conceptualized as an identity of a national collectivity and psychologically as an individual's identification with a nation. Collective national identity is socially constructed. Identification with this collective identity takes place through internalization of representations referring to history, economy, territory, people etc. To understand, how this constructed identity appeals to nationals, investigation of the motivational basis of social identification, psychological security, as well as the nature of representations of national identity is needed. The power of the national identity is related to (1) the institutions of a nation-state, (2) national territory in the sense of fixed, bounded essence and relation to locality, (3) sense of temporal continuity represented by national myths, traditions and history and 4) representation of the nation as a family, extending children's identification with their parents to the nation. The keys to obligation of a nation are sense of participation, place and continuity.

 

Jorma Anttila, M.A., Department of Social Psychology, PO Box 4, FIN-00014 University of Helsinki.