Social identities facilitate and encapsulate action-relevant constructs

Abstract

Social psychology has much to say about conditions under which people will take action to overcome their own, or another group's, disadvantage. Starting with Le Bon's (1895/1947) analysis of crowd behavior, social psychologists have explored the psychological motivators and processes underpinning collective action for over a century (for reviews see Haslam, 2001; Klandermans, 1997). This paper focuses on two recent developments in that tradition that emphasize a central role of social identity. Specifically, van Zomeren, Postmes, and Spears (2008) have recently conducted an integrative meta-analysis of collective action research, yielding what van Zomeren et al. (2008) call the social identity model of collective action (SIMCA). Thomas, McGarty, and Mavor (2009a) proposed an alternative complementary role for social identity in the encapsulation model of social identity in collective action (EMSICA). This paper provides direct empirical tests of SIMCA and EMSICA with some new twists. Both models afford a central role to the function of social identities in promoting collective action.

Group interaction as the crucible of social identity formation: A glimpse at the foundations of social identities for collective action

“…Intriguingly, Lewin's two legacies -group decision through social interaction and action research -may, in combination, provide some significant insights as to how to generate collective identities that promote sustainable action. The current analysis explores this possibility by drawing on recent developments in the social psychology of social identity formation (Postmes, Haslam, & Swaab, 2005) and collective action (Thomas, McGarty, & Mavor, 2009;Thomas, Mavor, & McGarty, 2012;van Zomeren, Postmes, & Spears, 2008) to specify the role of group interaction in promoting the development of new social identities that are built for action. …”

“…Indeed, van Zomeren and colleagues (2008) posit a particularly important role for the social identity pathway, whereby social identification has direct effects on collective action, as well as indirect effects on action through relevant reactions to injustice (e.g. anger or outrage) and beliefs (group efficacy).More recently still, Thomas et al ( , 2012 proposed the encapsulation model of social identity in collective action (EMSICA). EMSICA anticipates the same pathways as SIMCA (injustice, efficacy and identity) but proposes that new identities can emerge out of shared reactions (injustice and efficacy) to a state of affairs.…”

Everywhere Taksim: Sowing the Seeds for a New Turkey at Gezi

“…The proposed Social Identity Model of Collective Action (SIMCA) describes identity, perceived injustice and perceived efficacy as the important conditions and predictive elements of collective action, showing that perceptions of illegitimacy (injustice) indeed function to create a sense of need for collective action. In this model, identity has a very important role, as it is both a direct predictor of collective action as well as an indirect predictor, which might follow the injustice and efficacy pathways (Thomas et al 2011). However, there is also another possibility in collective action that identity might play a less important role than perceived injustice.…”

“…Thomas et al (2011) proposed an Encapsulated Model of Social Identity in Collective Action (EMSICA) as an alternative to the SIMCA model mentioned above. In this model, as in the SIMCA model, social identity is still important.…”

“…In this model, as in the SIMCA model, social identity is still important. However, Thomas et al (2011) claim that social identity can be a mediator for injustice and efficacy in predicting collective action. The situation in Gezi Park explains this phenomenon.…”