I remember somebody once equating religious devotion to anyone devoted to an identity. That being goth, or suburban white male, nerd, butch, or catholic is more or less the same psychological situation.
It's saying "this set of ideals and persona fit what I need inside and outside right now." None if these identities are static and are subject to a huge spectrum of individual interpretation.
Any thoughts on this?
(I don't remember where I heard it, but the concept popped into my head for whatever reason)
Associating oneself with something to the point were one identifies oneself with loyalty and fidelity to it is the very definition of tribalism.
Be it a religion, sports team, ideology, political movement, gender or leader.