Identity fusion

This is a condition that occurs when ideology merges with a person's core sense of self. In other words, "my political beliefs" become "who I am." When this occurs, any challenge to the ideology feels like a personal attack on his or her very existence, which then triggers intense emotional responses. You wonder why you can't talk with certain people about politics. You wonder why you can't appeal to them on the basis of rationality. Here's why. Their politics have become their identity. In many ways, this is similar to addiction. Something outside of the self runs the self. Yes, this is what happens to people who become a part of cults. Their identity is fused with the cult. Sometimes that won't change until the people step outside of the cult. And that doesn't come easy for many.