Keep it the same: Need for closure and the allure of homogeneous groups with impermeable boundaries

Abstract

The Need for (cognitive) Closure has been found to predict a "syndrome" of group-centric behaviors in numerous experiments (Kruglanski et al., 2006). This is theorized to be due to a strong desire for social reality, which groups can provide. The present research investigates the requisite conditions in which groups can fulfill this desire for a firm social reality, specifically group boundary impermeability and group homogeneity. It was found that Need for Closure predicted greater liking for the group only when the group was both homogeneous in composition and had impermeable boundaries, but not when only one of these conditions was met. These findings are explained using lay epistemic theory (Kruglanski, 1989).