Social Representations, Social Identity, and Representational Imputation

Abstract

Abstract. Social representations can be considered as sets of knowledge, beliefs, or opinions shared by members of a group regarding social objects such as general topics (e.g., vaccination), tangible objects (e.g., electric cars), or even social groups (e.g., migrants). While social representations of different social groups have been explored in several studies, almost none focus on the representations we are likely to attribute to these groups in relation to given social objects. In other words: “how do we represent how others are perceiving something?” The aim of this contribution is then to present and discuss the concepts of representational imputation and divergence, these concepts referring respectively to the fact of attributing a certain representation of a given object to others and to the perceived discrepancy between this representation and our own. As representational imputation and divergence are related to the social identity theory as well as the social representations theory, after a presentation of the literature connecting these two fields, we will present these concepts and the research perspectives opened by this theoretical proposition.

The Fitness-Validation Model of Propagandist Persuasion and the 5Ds of Propaganda.

“…In line with social influence (Cialdini, 2006) and social identity research (Hogg & Smith, 2007), Social fit is maximized when the social elements of a message resonate with the social identity of the target: its content indicates a majority position shared by recipient's ingroup (Schultz et al, 2018), its source is perceived to be ingroup or allied (Ditto et al, 2019b), and the intended purpose behind the message is perceived to be benevolent towards the recipient's ingroup (i.e. positive imputation, see Prost et al, 2022). Although persuasion research points at various relevant social characteristics (e.g.…”

Social representations of teachers' dropout in the French context: An exploratory study

“…The study of social representations then allows us to highlight the confrontation of the position‐taking concerning these same objects, with an initial knowledge of the latter and the specificities of the object in question (Lo Monaco et al., 2017). Thereby, it both allows us to bring out the common vision and values of these objects and the differences between groups (Prost et al., 2022; Zouhri & Rateau, 2015). It is an attempt to understand the power of collective and individual ideas, the power of beliefs, the power of the masses, those of minorities and the power of the masses made up of minorities (Ohayon, 2015).…”