Determining our destiny: Do restrictions to collective autonomy fuel collective action?

Abstract

Groups experience collective autonomy restriction whenever they perceive that other groups attempt to limit the freedom of their group to determine and express its own identity. We argue that collective autonomy restriction motivates groups (both structurally advantaged and disadvantaged) to improve their power position within the social hierarchy. Four studies spanning real-world (Studies 1 and 2) and lab-based (Studies 3 and 4) intergroup contexts supported these ideas. In Study 1 (N=311), Black Americans' (a relatively disadvantaged group) experience of collective autonomy restriction was associated with greater support for collective action, and less system justification. In Study 2, we replicated these findings with another sample of Black Americans (N=292). We also found that collective autonomy restriction was positively associated with White Americans' (a relatively advantaged group, N=294) support for collective action and ideologies that bolster White's dominant position. In Study 3 (N=387, 97 groups), groups that were susceptible to being controlled by a high-power group (i.e., were of low structural power) desired group power more when their collective autonomy was restricted (versus supported). In Study 4 (N=803, 257 groups) experiencing collective autonomy restriction (versus support) increased low-power group members' support of collective action, decreased system justification, and evoked hostile emotions, both when groups were and were not materially exploited (by being tasked with more than their fair share of work). Across studies, we differentiate collective autonomy restriction from structural group power, other forms of injustice, group agency, and group identification. These findings indicate that collective autonomy restriction uniquely motivates collective behavior.

Changes in values and well-being amidst the COVID-19 pandemic in Poland

“…This study provides new evidence on how well-being reflects adverse external circumstances. We replicated and extended similar findings from other countries [24,[26][27][28][29]52]. However, we were the first to present a decrease in eudaimonic well-being, an index of wellbeing related to self-expression [6].…”

“…The COVID-19 pandemic has been a major global event with a strong psychological influence on individuals and communities [24,[26][27][28][29]. The strength of our project is that we provided novel data, replicated previous findings, and extended the scope of scientific analysis regarding the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on life.…”

“…Studies indicate that the COVID-19 pandemic caused a significant decrease in well-being in China [24,25], the USA [26], Japan [27], Ireland [28], and New Zealand [29]. Thus, we expected that the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on well-being would also replicate in Poland.…”

Collective autonomy: Why groups fight for power and status

“…Running Head: Collective Autonomy, Power and Status 13 Supporting these predictions, the more Black Americans (a disempowered group) perceived collective autonomy restriction, the more they wanted to challenge the current social system by supporting movements like Black Lives Matter (Kachanoff, Kteily et al, 2020).…”

Reliability of the Hebrew Version of the Integrated Covid-19 Threat Scale

“…concreate attack on physical and material well-being; whereas other items represented symbolic threats -an assault on cultural and national identity (F. Kachanoff, Bigman, Kapsaskis, & Gray, 2020; F. J. Kachanoff, Kteily, Khullar, Park, & Taylor, 2019;Stephan, Ybarra, & Morrison, 2009;Tajfel, Turner, Austin, & Worchel, 1979). It was suggested by Kachanoff et al that both types of threats likely increase psychological distress and may predict behaviors differentially.…”