One day we might be no more: Collective angst and protective action from potential distinctiveness loss

Abstract

Potential loss of group distinctiveness can represent a threat to the existence of a group. Across three studies (Ns ¼ 42, 60, 94), a mediated-moderation model was tested in which the interactive effects of group identification and potential ingroup distinctiveness loss predicts the desire to engage in ingroup protective action to the extent that collective angst (i.e., concern for the ingroup's future vitality) is aroused. It was hypothesized that the threat of potential distinctiveness loss would result in collective angst and subsequent support for protective action among high, but not necessarily low, identified group members. Results provided support for this model within the context of French Canadian distinctiveness from English Canada (Experiment 1, where the outcome measure was the desire for a sovereign Quebec) and Canadian distinctiveness from the United States (Experiments 2 and 3, where the outcome was support for action to protect Canadian sovereignty and rejection of a North American Union respectively). When and why collective angst facilitates ingroup protective action is discussed. Copyright # 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.Group membership provides a person with existential security (Durkheim, 1951). Although individual group members will eventually perish, the group is generally thought to have temporal persistence or continuity (Reicher & Hopkins, 2001;Sani et al., 2007). To the extent that group members believe their group's future is secure, existential concerns may be minimized. When however the group's future is perceived to be insecure, then existential concerns are most likely to surface (Lewin, 1948). One type of threat to the continuity of the ingroup is the potential loss of group distinctiveness. According to social identity theory (SIT;Tajfel & Turner, 1986), a group is defined by its unique characteristics relative to other groups. Group members are thus motivated to differentiate their ingroup from other salient groups in order to achieve a positively distinct social identity. When the demarcations between the ingroup and a relevant outgroup are blurred, threat is likely to be experienced (Branscombe, Ellemers, Spears, & Doosje, 1999).Due to the existential significance of group membership, the potential loss of group distinctiveness might evoke a groupbased emotional response that reflects existential concerns. Branscombe (2008, 2009) have identified collective angst as an emotional response that is based on concern for the ingroup's future existence. Just as feelings of personal angst emerge when a person experiences concern that something negative will befall the self in the future (Barlow, 1988), collective angst emerges when negative events are thought likely to befall the ingroup. The current research examined the idea that because the potential loss of group distinctiveness speaks to the raison d'être of the group as an entity (see Jetten, Spears, & Postmes, 2004), it is likely to evoke concern for the group's future (Wilder, 1986). We argue that when collective ang...

Will we be harmed, will it be severe, can we protect ourselves? Threat appraisals predict collective angst (and its consequences)

“…That is, while the emotional goal of collective angst is always to secure the in-group's future, the specific action taken to achieve this goal depends on what is deemed necessary to protect their group's future. For instance, Québécois who feel collective angst are more apt to support sovereignty from Canada (Wohl et al, 2011). Jewish Israelis who feel collective angst are more likely to support negotiations with the Palestinian Authority, but less likely to do the same with Hamas (Halperin et al, 2013).…”

“…Halperin et al (2013), for example, found that Israeli Jews experienced collective angst when they were informed that Israel did not have the capability to prevent a nuclear attack from Iran. Likewise, Canadians experienced collective angst when they perceived Canadian distinctiveness from the United States was under threat (Wohl et al, 2011). Whether the threat perceived is realistic or symbolic, the consequence of collective angst is the same-an upswing in support for efforts to strengthen the ingroup (e.g., support for policies that are perceived to be in-group protective; for a review, see Lucas, Rudolph, Zhdanova, Barkho, & Weidner, 2014;Wohl, Squires, & Caouette, 2012).…”

“…In a similar way, a growing body of literature has shown that people feel existential concern or collective angst when a social group to which they belong come under existential threat (for a review, see Wohl et al, 2012). For example, group members experience collective angst when they appraise that an event may inflict harm to the unique features of the in-group that make it distinct from other groups (i.e., a symbolic distinctiveness threat; e.g., language) or the vitality of the group proper (i.e., a realistic threat; Wohl et al, 2010Wohl et al, , 2011 also see Dupuis, Porat, & Wohl, 2015).In this way, collective angst fits well within the rubric of intergroup emotions theory (IET;Smith, 1993). According to IET, when a person's social identity is salient, people appraise ongoing events based on relevance to their socially extended self (i.e., their ingroup) rather than the individual self.…”

“…These threats may take the form of realistic extinction threats posed by adversarial out-groups (Halperin, Porat, & Wohl, 2013;Wohl et al, 2010) but may also take the form of symbolic threats to the group's social identity (e.g., loss of cultural vitality; Wohl, Giguère, Branscombe, & McVicar, 2011). Halperin et al (2013), for example, found that Israeli Jews experienced collective angst when they were informed that Israel did not have the capability to prevent a nuclear attack from Iran.…”

The Combined Effect of Ethnic Identity Strength and Profiles on the Mental Health of Acadian University Students

“…Other combinations may be more noxious. For instance, among Acadian students who explore and commit to their cultural heritage, an ethnic identity profile that devalues the ingroup, or casts doubts about its viability (see collective angst, Wohl, Giguère, Branscombe, & McVicar, 2011), may be negatively associated with the mental health of Acadians. While this situation may seem counterintuitive, it is not unusual in New Brunswick for Acadians to experience pressure to take pride in their cultural heritage (Boudreau, 2016;Fournier, 2013).…”