People feel a need to belong because it is a fundamental part of one's sense being needed, and allows for one to feel accepted. Feelings of pain and confusion can arise if that need is not satisfied, as shown in the song "Somewhere I Belong." In Peter Skrzynecki's poems, "Feliks Skrzynecki," "Postcard," and "Migrant Hostel," feelings of alienation and disconnection are strong factors for why belonging is so highly sought after. Belonging can also be achieved in finding a sense of community within a group, as evident in "To Kill a Mockingbird" and "Forrest Gump." .
In the song "Somewhere I Belong" by rock band Linkin Park, words of high modality are used to emphasise the pain and confusion that is connected to the absence of belonging. This is shown in the beginning of the song, where the lyrics say: "When this began, I had nothing to say, And I get lost with the nothingness inside of me, I was confused". These lyrics are delivered after a strong opening rock riff, which is utilized to help create a tense atmosphere, before a quiet synthesiser takes over to allow for a sense of thought, in which the singer starts the song. His contemplation over his confusion shows that he was lost and felt "nothingness" inside, which in turn causes us to feel he is hollow and void of emotion. The singer though, then realizes over time that what he was feeling was his own fault and that all he wants is to belong: "I wanna heal, I wanna feel what I thought was never real, I wanna let go of the pain I've felt so long (Erase all the pain till it's gone), I wanna heal, I wanna feel like I'm close to something real, I wanna find something I've wanted all along, Somewhere I belong." After heavy driving rhythms of build-up from the guitar and drums, the chorus is delivered with fast-paced beats from all instruments to emphasise the frustration that is in correlation with the singer's troubles.