Furthermore, ontological security of identities is crucial for inducement of conflicts, because ontological security fulfillment affirms a group’s self-identity. Groups seek ontological security because they want to maintain consistent self-concept (Steele 2008). Also, ontological security refers to the need to experience oneself as a whole. Thus, when group members feel relatively unstable and fragile about their identity, they can’t understand who they are and a deep uncertainty renders the identity insecure (Mitzen 2006). In this regard, when an outgroup threatens an ingroup’s integrity and stability, an ontological insecurity happens. In such situation, ontological security will intensify levels of ingroup favoritism/bias and establish
