How participation in collective action changes relationships, behaviours, and beliefs: An interview study of the role of inter- and intragroup processes

Abstract

Research has shown that numerous psychological changes can occur in and through collective action. Previous research on psychological consequences of participation in collective action has mainly focused on one change at a time and has rarely included a theoretical explanation for the change. The present study therefore investigates the range and possible connections between changes occurring in collective action. We interviewed participants (n = 28) involved in an environmental campaign in Sweden which included interaction with the police. Through thematic analysis of the data we found that the participants connected several psychological changes to aspects of their participation. Specifically, participants related these changes to two intertwined processes: intergroup interaction and intragroup interaction. We suggest that intergroup interaction (specifically conflict with the police outgroup) can affect intragroup processes (e.g., support and unity), which in turn can influence psychological change (e.g., empowerment and skills). Through the study, we develop and contribute to previous research by: 1) documenting a range of possible changes occurring through collective action participation, and 2) exploring the different psychological processes related to the changes. The implications of this research and future challenges are discussed in relation to developing the social identity approach.

When does activism benefit well-being? Evidence from a longitudinal study of Clinton voters in the 2016 U.S. presidential election

“…A growing body of research suggests that engaging in political activism can promote well-being [9–17]. This evidence is consistent with the idea, long suggested by psychologists and social theorists, that working toward something bigger than the self is a fundamental human striving, and that the satisfaction of this basic motive promotes well-being [18–20].…”

“…If those highly identified with Clinton were acting for solidarity-building reasons, they may have garnered benefits through a sense of community with other Clinton supporters. This explanation is suggested by an interview study of environmental activists, which concluded that changes in their well-being appeared to emerge out of a new sense of shared identity with other activists, which they felt promoted a sense of community [17]. Or, those highly identified with Clinton may have been acting for value-expressive reasons, which can also have positive consequences for well-being.…”

“…In interview studies of activists, Drury, Cocking, Beale, Hanson, and Rapley [32] concluded that activism that “actualizes participants’ social identity against the power of dominant groups” was linked to activists’ accounts of empowerment and positive emotions resulting from their activism (p. 309), and Evripidou and Drury [11] concluded that whether activists experienced positive emotions and defined their activities as a success depended on their social identities, which appeared to have shaped their goals and expectations. Similarly, through interviews with environmental activists, Vestergren et al [17] concluded that a heightened sense of a shared identity contributed to well-being benefits that were experienced by activists.…”

How collective action produces psychological change and how that change endures over time: A case study of an environmental campaign

“…All participants in our sample connected various psychological changes to their involvement in the campaign. The participants reported 11 types of psychological change linked to their involvement in the campaign: personal relationships (e.g., connections with friends or family members), work–life/career (e.g., changing area of work), extended involvement (i.e., getting involved in other campaigns and/or issues), consumer behaviour (i.e., obtaining, use, and disposal of services and products such as shampoo), empowerment (i.e., belief that they can achieve something), radicalization/politicization (i.e., change in beliefs, behaviours, and feelings towards becoming more political, acting in an ‘activist’ way), (ill)legitimacy (i.e., perceived rightness of own and other group's actions), self‐esteem/self‐confidence (i.e., feelings about oneself, such as gaining confidence to stand up for own opinions), well‐being (e.g., feeling better physically), skills (e.g., organizing), and knowledge (e.g., of the judicial system) (for more thorough description of participants’ changes see Vestergren, Drury, & Hammar Chiriac, ). Table summarizes the number of changes each activist linked to their involvement, and the endurance of these changes by showing their prevalence over time.…”

“…As suggested by Vestergren et al . (), intragroup interaction could facilitate sustainability of personal changes through participation in collective action. To illustrate this in the case of the two participants, we used their reported activity levels in the campaign as a measurement.…”