What reason(s) compels a person to join a fraternal or service organization?
Okay, I had to throw out my long answer, it was getting dull. There are probably a hundred explanations offered by psychologists as to why people join fraternal organizations… but then, psychology is junk science anyway. The reasons people join such groups are as varied as the individuals and groups themselves. Some are fulfilling family traditions and ideals of their upbringing, some are looking for something to belong to, something that matters and something that is greater than themselves. Some belong to these organizations because they are unhappy with the religious or political constraints that similar church and party based groups offer. Some belong to multiple groups, and for others it is a natural extension of their life-long dedication to civic service and fraternity. From among the last two groups, it is not unusual to find a disproportionate number of police officers, firefighters, and veterans belonging to fraternal organizations. These are individuals steeped in the idea
