Group interaction as the crucible of social identity formation: A glimpse at the foundations of social identities for collective action
- 3 November 2015
- journal article
- research article
- Published by SAGE Publications in Group Processes & Intergroup Relations
- Vol. 19 (2), 137-151
- https://doi.org/10.1177/1368430215612217
Abstract
Many of the world’s biggest problems are being tackled through the formation of new groups yet very little research has directly observed the processes by which new groups form to respond to social problems. The current paper draws on seminal research by Lewin (1947) to advance a perspective as to how such identities form through processes of small group interaction. Multilevel structural equation modelling involving 58 small group discussions (with N = 234) demonstrates that focused group discussion can boost the commitment to take collective action, beliefs in the efficacy of that action, and members’ social identification with other supporters of the cause. The results are consistent with the new commitment to action flowing from emergent social identities.Keywords
This publication has 56 references indexed in Scilit:
- Public division about climate change rooted in conflicting socio-political identitiesNature Climate Change, 2015
- Bridging intragroup processes and intergroup relations: Needing the twain to meetBritish Journal of Social Psychology, 2013
- Why and how are you attached to your Social Group? Investigating different forms of social identificationBritish Journal of Social Psychology, 2012
- Predictors of Protest Among Anti-Globalization Demonstrators1Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 2009
- Opinion‐based group membership as a predictor of commitment to political actionEuropean Journal of Social Psychology, 2006
- A Three-Factor Model of Social IdentitySelf and Identity, 2004
- An Organizing Framework for Collective Identity: Articulation and Significance of Multidimensionality.Psychological Bulletin, 2004
- Collective action and psychological change: The emergence of new social identitiesBritish Journal of Social Psychology, 2000
- Exercise of Human Agency Through Collective EfficacyCurrent Directions in Psychological Science, 2000
- Knowing what to think by knowing who you are: Self‐categorization and the nature of norm formation, conformity and group polarization*British Journal of Social Psychology, 1990