The Need to Belong Captured by Horizon Zero Dawn
The desire to belong is a fundamental part of the human nature. It has been in every one of us since the dawn of time of hunting and gathering. As a social species, we have grown to be specifically attuned to ourselves and wonder whether or not we belong somewhere, here, there, wherever there may be. Being excluded or ostracized from the group could mean death — the drive to belong became deeply ingrained in our DNA.
The need to belong is most profound during our very first few seconds born into the world. We, as a human, are pretty helpless creatures on our own, let alone prevailing. Early attachments have always been highlighted as one of the most important posts of our early years, for example, by John Bowlby and his wife, Mary Ainsworth. The attachment theory provides a powerful explanation of how early relationships with caregivers influence not only our survival but also our emotional development and ability to form meaningful connections throughout life. By fostering secure bonds, individuals are better equipped to navigate challenges, regulate emotions, and form the connections needed for collective survival.
This angle was captured through a captivating and emotionally absorbing game — Horizon Zero Dawn. The story starts with the main protagonist — Aloy who begins her life as an outcast of the Nora tribe. As an infant, Aloy was found in a sacred mountain by the high matriarchs. They believed Aloy was a curse as the mountain was so sacred that not one person could enter it except for the matriarchs. They believed Aloy was motherless hence the reason she was shunned and made an outcast based on the Nora law.
To ensure her survival, she was taken in by a man named Rost — another outcast who loved her just as much as if she was his own. Growing up, Aloy was in full awareness that she was an outcast and that Rost wasn’t her biological father but she never knew why she was shunned and made an outcast. As a kid, Aloy sometimes found herself in a powerless situation where other kids would call her names and harm her viciously.
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Her relationship with Rost, her adoptive father, is her only solace. Yet, even this bond is constrained by the tribe’s rules, reminding us that the deepest human connections can’t fully replace the need for communal belonging. Rost’s guidance and love instill in Aloy a resilience that carries her forward, but the emotional wounds of rejection linger. Frustrated, she demanded an explanation from Rost of where she came from, her home, and her unseeable curse. Rost, being an honest man that he was, told her the truth about not knowing one single thing but mentioned how it was the matriarchs who found her. The only way for Aloy to get in touch with the matriarchs was through a coming-of-age ritual — the proving, in which the winner would be granted a boon and Aloy would be accepted as part of the tribe.
Feeling excluded — whether it’s from school cliques, cultural groups, or even family dynamics. Why does it matter? To put it simply, when the sense of belonging is threatened, then the discomfort and self-doubt can have far-reaching effects that may not surprise many of us. In the real world, connection and belonging throughout our whole life, both in social setting and at home influences our action and motivation. Humans are often motivated to conform to social norms, form relationships, or seek acceptance to maintain their position in a social group.
For one thing, a sense of belonging has been suspected as a double edged sword characterized by what Stanley Schachter, one of the whizzes of social psychology — exert pressures to uniformity. To put it simply, it surfaces when we’re with our own group, we will conform to the power group’s judgments, even when it defies the evidence of their own senses to some degree. It shows how suspectible we are as creatures. On the other end, sense of belonging shores up self sense of identity and self-integrity by asserting what’s most important to them.
Aloy’s journey is not just about fighting machines or uncovering ancient secrets; it’s about discovering who she is and where she belongs. As she learns that she is a genetic clone of Dr. Elisabet Sobeck, a brilliant scientist from the old world, her sense of identity is both clarified and complicated. She is connected to humanity’s past yet feels alienated from its present. This struggle reflects a universal truth: our sense of belonging is deeply tied to understanding our origins and purpose. Whether it’s tracing family roots, embracing cultural heritage, or navigating identity in a globalized world, we all seek to understand where we fit. For Aloy, belonging becomes less about conforming to the Nora’s rigid rules and more about carving out her own place in a fragmented world.
Her time wandering the wilderness, uncovering ancient ruins, and battling machines highlights her independence. Yet, her alliances with characters like Erend, Varl, and Sylens show her capacity to build meaningful connections. The defense of Meridian, a climactic moment where Aloy unites disparate tribes to face a common enemy, demonstrates the power of collective action. Here, belonging is not about fitting into one tribe but about creating a sense of unity across divides. Aloy becomes a unifier, proving that true belonging can transcend traditional boundaries.
Horizon Zero Dawn is more than an action-packed game; it’s a meditation on humanity’s deepest needs. Introduced by my dear friend — Luqman, I was able to see through Aloy’s journey, understand that belonging isn’t just about being part of a group — it’s about creating connections that transcend barriers, finding strength in diversity, and accepting ourselves as we are. In a world that often feels fragmented, Aloy’s story reminds us that belonging is both a journey and a choice. Whether we’re forging new paths, challenging old systems, or simply reaching out to others, the need for belonging is universal — and it’s what makes us human.
