Mahecha-Rowntree, Lauren A.2018-12-202018-052018-04-262018http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:37945094This study investigated the role of respect and need to belong in group investment and motivational focus by examining belongingness needs, group contributions and motivational focus in a sample that received respectful treatment versus a sample that did not receive respectful treatment. We hypothesized that group members that did not receive respect would exhibit higher belongingness needs. We also hypothesized that when engaging in group-serving behaviors, the motivations of members that did not receive respect would be group-focused rather than self-focused when belongingness needs were high. Participants were recruited online using the Amazon Mechanical Turk platform and then directed to a Qualtrics online survey website. Self-report questionnaire format was used to capture information about the participants’ feelings on belongingness, social standing and group membership. Group-serving behavior was measured using virtual money used in an investment task. Results demonstrated significantly higher levels of thwarted belongingness and self-focused motivations in group members that did not receive respect as compared to group members that did receive respect. The findings from this study offer new insight and a unique perspective into the interconnected areas of respect, group investment motivation and the fundamental need to belong.application/pdfPsychology, SocialThesis or Dissertation2018-12-200000-0002-4925-8358