Ingroup identification, identity fusion and the formation of Viking war bands

Bibliographic Data

ID3919830
AuthorsBen Raffield (0000-0002-5753-4535, Simon Fraser University), Claire Greenlow (Simon Fraser University), Neil Price (Uppsala University), M Collard (0000-0002-2725-4989, Simon Fraser University, corresponding author)
Year2016
Volume48
Issue1
Pages35-50
Publication date2016-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueWorld Archaeology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0043-8243 • E-ISSN: 1470-1375
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/00438243.2015.1100548
OpenAlexW2261691020
LanguageEN
Citations received27
References cited43

The lið, a retinue of warriors sworn to a leader, has long been considered one of the basic armed groups of the Viking Age. However, in recent years the study of lið has been eclipsed by the discussion of larger Viking armies. In this paper, we focus on the key question of how loyalty to the lið was achieved. We argue that two processes that have been intensively studied by psychologists and anthropologists – ingroup identification and identity fusion – would have been important in the formation and operation of lið. In support of this hypothesis, we outline archaeological, historical and literary evidence pertaining to material and psychological identities. The construction of such identities, we contend, would have facilitated the formation of cohesive fighting groups and contributed to their success while operating in the field

Aesthetics · Collective identity · Epistemology · Identification (biology · Identity (music · Identity formation · Ingroups and outgroups · Loyalty · Political science · Social science · Sociology · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies · Evolutionary Game Theory and Cooperation · Historical and Archaeological Studies · History · Law · Philosophy · Psychology · Social Psychology

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