Context Matters: Explaining How and Why Mobilizing Context Influences Motivational Dynamics

Abstract

The emphasis in the social-psychological collective action literature is on why individuals take part in collective action; however, it does not elaborate on how different mobilizing contexts may appeal to distinct motivational dynamics to participate. The present study connects the microlevel of motivational dynamics of individual protesters with the mesolevel of social movement characteristics. To do so a field study was conducted. Protesters were surveyed in the act of protesting in two different demonstrations in two different town squares simultaneously organized by two social movements at exactly the same time against the same budget cuts proposed by the same government. But with one fundamental difference, the movements emphasized different aspects of the policies proposed by the government. This most similar systems design created a unique natural experiment, which enabled the authors to examine whether the motivational dynamics of individual protesters are moderated by the social movement context. Previous research suggested an instrumental path to collective action, and the authors added an ideology path. The authors expected and found that power-oriented collective action appeals to instrumental motives and efficacy and that value-oriented collective action appeals to ideological motives, and, finally, that efficacy mediates on instrumental motives and motivational strength, but only so in power-oriented action.The general picture of Dutch society has been one of steady progress, up to 2001 the Dutch were happy and satisfied people (Social and Cultural Planning Office, 2004). However, a break in this trend occurred, and since 2001 the Dutch social and political climate has been characterized by unrest. A number of notable events took place, including acts of international terrorism and a political (Pim Fortuin) and radical religious (Theo van Gogh) assassination within The

Online collective action in China: a new integrated framework

“…Although the basic content and mechanisms of these motives are consistent across many situations, specific differences can be discovered depending on unique contexts (Van Stekelenburg and Klandermans, 2014;Van Stekelenburg et al, 2009). Generally speaking, most on-and offline collective action in the contemporary Chinese context does not oppose the existing political system and ideology because of Confucianism and market economic values.…”

From Rationalization to Attribution: A Meta- Analysis of Existing Explanations of Reaction to Marginalization and Inequality in Nigeria

“…Recently however, van Zomeren et al, (2010) showed that efficacy and group identification are mutually enhancing and recursive. There have also been analyses of effects of emotion (Stürmer, & Simon, 2009), and violated sacred values and ideology (Giguère & Altran, 2009;van Stekelenburg et al, 2009). However the absence of the analysis of the effects of consensually shared beliefs about the causes of phenomena in shaping action (Kluegel & Smith, 1986) renders the account of motivators and constrains incomplete.…”

“…Stürmer & Sturmer (2009) recently motivated for an addition pathway, 'emotion'. Other Scholars have argued for supplementary pathways including willingness to express one's view or ideology, the protection of sacred values (Ginges & Altran, 2009;van Stekelenburg et al, 2009) and individual enhancement motive (Tropp & Brown, 2004). Bluic et al (2007: 19) showed that while group identification and efficacy influence collective action, the statistical variance contributed to action by these variables have been weak, indicating that there are other mediating factors meriting attention beside these instrumental concerns.…”

“…While many, using the paradigm proposed by SIT, have identified instrumental and affective pathways to action, there have been arguments for the inclusion of separate pathways of emotions (Stürmer & Simon, 2009), individual self enhancement (Tropp & Brown, 2004) as well the protection of sacred values (Ginges & Altran, 2009). Bluic et al's (2007) argument that the statistical variance contributed to action by these variables justifies the search for non-instrumental antecedents accounting for missing variance in action (Ginges & Altran, 2009;van Stekelenburg et al, 2009).…”

Social Psychology of Movement Participation

“…Rather than replacing instrumentality as an explanatory paradigm, identification added to the explanation as a second pathway. Van Zomeren and colleagues (2004) Klandermans, & van Dijk 2009). In order to develop the shared grievances and shared emotions a shared identity is needed (see figure).…”