Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is! Explaining Collective Action Tendencies Through Group-Based Anger and Group Efficacy.

Abstract

Insights from appraisal theories of emotion are used to integrate elements of theories on collective action. Three experiments with disadvantaged groups systematically manipulated procedural fairness (Study 1), emotional social support (Study 2), and instrumental social support (Study 3) to examine their effects on collective action tendencies through group-based anger and group efficacy. Results of structural equation modeling showed that procedural fairness and emotional social support affected the group-based anger pathway (reflecting emotion-focused coping), whereas instrumental social support affected the group efficacy pathway (reflecting problem-focused coping), constituting 2 distinct pathways to collective action tendencies. Analyses of the means suggest that collective action tendencies become stronger the more fellow group members "put their money where their mouth is." The authors discuss how their dual pathway model integrates and extends elements of current approaches to collective action.

Anger and shame elicited by discrimination: Moderating role of coping on action endorsements and salivary cortisol

“…As anger represents an energizing emotion that elicits an active approach response to contend with a situation (Frijda et al, 1989;Lemerise & Dodge, 1993), it is not surprising that when individuals experienced anger in response to their group's treatment, it served as a catalyst for action (Mackie et al, 2000;van Zomeren et al, 2004;Yzerbyt et al, 2003). At the same time, however, among minority group members, pressures may exist to restrain the expression of anger (Brody, 2000;Keltner, Gruenfeld, & Anderson, 2003), thereby limiting collective or confrontational actions.…”

“…Experiences of discrimination frequently elicit anger, which in turn, promotes collective action (Mackie et al, 2000;van Zomeren et al, 2004). Yet, as indicated earlier, discrimination more typically is not followed by such actions (Foster & Matheson, 1999;Louis & Taylor, 1999;Swim & Hyers, 1999;Woodzicka & LaFrance, 2001).…”

“…In this regard, a problem-focused orientation (e.g., making active efforts to seek information and resources, and planning and executing an appropriate response to alter the situation) is associated with perceptions of control and an ability to overcome stressful situations. Hence, group members who endorse this coping style may feel empowered and demonstrate a greater propensity to confront their discriminatory situation (Matheson & Cole, 2004;van Zomeren et al, 2004). In contrast, individuals with an emotion-focused orientation (e.g., ruminating about or expressing one's emotions, or making efforts to contain one's emotions) may be more sensitive to emotion-relevant cues (Stanton et al, 2000), including potential threats to the self (Matheson & Cole, 2004).…”

“…Feelings of anger typically serve as a catalyst for action (Frijda, Kuipers, & TerSchure, 1989), including confrontational strategies on behalf of the group (Gill & Matheson, 2006;Mackie et al, 2000;van Zomeren, Spears, Fischer, & Leach, 2004;Yzerbyt, Dumont, Wigboldus, & Gordijn, 2003). Yet, actions to overcome the disadvantaged status of one's group are not, in fact, common (Louis & Taylor, 1999;Wright, Taylor, & Moghaddam, 1990).…”

“…Alternatively, more confrontational non-normative actions (e.g., protest) may be instigated to demand social change. These actions require the greatest effort on the part of the individual or group and entail the most risk (Louis & Taylor, 1999), and for this reason, feelings of anger may be fundamental to initiating such confrontational strategies (van Zomeren et al, 2004).It was hypothesized, as depicted in Figure 1, that women would feel greater anger when their failure was due to discrimination, and such anger would be associated with greater endorsements of collective and confrontational actions. In addition, because discrimination threatens women's social group membership, it was expected that women would also experience greater shame in the discrimination than in the personal failure condition.…”