The mobilizing and protective role of national identification in normative and non‐normative collective action

Abstract

In the context of the financial crisis in Europe and drawing on social identity and perceived disadvantage literature, this research explored national identification, perceived prejudice, perceived ostracism, and anger as predictors of intentions to engage in normative collective action and support for non‐normative and destructive action. Correlational data were collected in Greece (N = 218), Portugal (N = 312), and Italy (N = 211) during the financial crisis that affected several European countries in the early 2010s. Hierarchical regressions showed that national identification, above and beyond all other variables, positively predicted normative collective action intentions, and negatively predicted support for non‐normative action. That is, people who were identified more strong with their national identity were more likely to report that they will engage in collective action to enhance the position of their (national) in‐group, and less likely to support destructive collective action. Mediation analyses revealed that in the case of Portugal and Italy, national identification associated negatively with anger, while anger positively predicted normative collective action. The findings of this research point to the importance of national identification as a factor, that, on the one hand motivates people's mobilization toward supporting the rights of the ingroup but on the other hand impedes the more negative and destructive side of collective action. The contextual and instrumental role of national identity in contexts of threat is discussed.

May the odds be ever in your favor: The Hunger Games and the fight for a more equal society. (Negative) Media vicarious contact and collective action

“…In particular, we believe ingroup identification is an especially relevant mediator. First, it is an established predictor of intergroup bias and collective action (Adra et al., 2019; Çakal et al., 2011; Stathi et al., 2019; Thomas et al., 2012; Thomas et al., 2020; see also van Zomeren et al., 2008). Second, a reduction in ingroup identification may be related to the concept of deprovincialization proposed by Pettigrew (2009), whereby individuals realize that ingroup customs, traditions, and social norms are not the only way to manage and interpret social reality.…”

“…There is now consistent evidence that anger toward injustice (that we tested as a mediator in the present research) instigates collective action. In particular, it is typically associated with disadvantaged group members' intentions to engage in action to restore social justice (Hayward et al., 2018; Stathi et al., 2019; Tausch et al., 2015; Ufkes et al., 2015).…”

“It was rigged”: Different types of identification predict activism and radicalism in the U.S. 2020 election

“…Becker et al (2011) found that people have stronger politicized (social movement) identification, but weaker superordinate (national) identification, after engaging in nonnormative collective action. Alternatively, Stathi et al (2019) found that stronger superordinate (national) identification predicted stronger normative action but weaker nonnormative collective action.…”

“…Alternatively, Stathi et al. (2019) found that stronger superordinate (national) identification predicted stronger normative action but weaker nonnormative collective action.…”

The role of social identity in the explanation of collective action: An intergroup perspective on the Yellow Vests movement

“…(2011), however, did not examine the role of social identity in these initial studies. While Becker and Tausch (2015) subsequently suggested that contrary to group‐based emotions and group efficacy, social identity may be equally important for both normative and nonnormative collective action, preliminary evidence suggests that social identity is a stronger predictor of normative collective action than nonnormative (Stathi et al., 2019). Related work also shows that identification with Yellow Vest can be related to nonnormative collective action, but this research considered only general behaviors and not those pertinent to Yellow Vests (Adam‐Troian et al, 2020).…”