Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs has a lot to say about the interconnecting ideas of Identity and Belonging. In particular, the three higher level needs identified by Maslow; love/belonging, esteem and self-actualisation show just how important the development of one's identity and sense of belonging are to an individual. Maslow's theory seems to support the assertion that one cannot achieve a full sense of self, completely realised 'identity' or reach their full potential (self-actualisation) without the fulfilment of the lower order needs. Have a look around the web to further explore Maslow's ideas in this hierarchy.
