scholarly journals Approaching Collectivity Collectively: A Multi-Disciplinary Account of Collective Action

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerhard Thonhauser ◽  
Martin Weichold
Keyword(s):  
Social Psychology ◽  
Dynamical Systems ◽  
Social Identity ◽  
Collective Action ◽  
Systems Theory ◽  
Social Identity Theory ◽  
Sense Making ◽  
Collective Intentionality ◽  
Collective Actions ◽  
Dynamical Interaction

There has been considerable progress in investigating collective actions in the last decades. However, the real progress is different from what many scholars take it to be. It lies in the fact that there is by now a wealth of different approaches from a variety of fields. Each approach has carved out fruitful mechanisms for explaining collective action, but is also faced with limitations. Given that situation, we submit that the next step in investigating collective action is to acknowledge the plurality of approaches and bring them into dialogue. With this aim in mind, the present article discusses the strengths and weaknesses of some of the to our mind most relevant approaches to collective action in current debates. We begin with the collective intentionality framework, the team reasoning approach, and social identity theory. Then, we move to ecological social psychology, participatory sense-making, and, through the lenses of those frameworks, dynamical systems theory. Finally, we discuss practice theory. Against this background, we provide a proposal for a synthesis of the successful explanatory mechanisms as they have been carved out by the different research programs. The suggestion is, roughly, to understand collective action as dynamical interaction of a self-organizing system with its environment, shaped by a process of collective sense-making.

Judaism and Violence

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Eisen
Keyword(s):  
Social Psychology ◽  
Middle East ◽  
Social Identity ◽  
Early Modern ◽  
Hebrew Bible ◽  
Social Identity Theory ◽  
Identity Theory ◽  
Rabbinic Judaism ◽  
Middle East Conflict ◽  
Modern Judaism

This Element explores the potential in Judaism to incite Jews to engage in violence against non-Jews. The analysis proceeds in historical fashion, with sections devoted to the Hebrew Bible, rabbinic Judaism, medieval and early modern Judaism, and modern Zionism. The last topic is given special attention because of its relevance to the current Middle East conflict. This Element also draws on insights from social psychology to explain Jewish violence - particularly Social Identity Theory.

Nationalism

2021 ◽  
pp. 197-220
Author(s):  
Nils Holtug
Keyword(s):  
Social Psychology ◽  
National Identity ◽  
Social Identity ◽  
National Culture ◽  
Social Cohesion ◽  
Social Identity Theory ◽  
Identity Theory ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Nation Building ◽  
Causal Mechanism

Chapter 7, on nationalism, addresses the so-called ‘national identity argument’, according to which a shared national identity fosters social cohesion and is required for, or at least facilitates, egalitarian redistribution. First, it is argued that the prospect for nation-building policies, built on the idea of a shared national culture, is severely restricted by the liberal egalitarian requirements of justice defended in Chapter 4. Then the causal mechanism through which a national culture is supposed to promote trust and solidarity is scrutinized, and it is argued that it is not really supported by, for example, social identity theory and evidence from social psychology. Finally, empirical studies of the effect of national identity on trust and solidarity are considered, and it is argued that these do not support the national identity argument either.

scholarly journals Making clear what is fuzzy about community membership: A prototypic approach

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jordan Reed ◽  
Ariel Jordan-Zamora ◽  
Crystal Nicole Steltenpohl ◽  
Christopher Keys
Keyword(s):  
Social Psychology ◽  
Content Analysis ◽  
Social Identity ◽  
Social Identity Theory ◽  
Growth Mindset ◽  
Thematic Content Analysis ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Community Membership ◽  
Black And White ◽  
Equal Interest

Aims: The critical task of positively identifying membership of the communities with which we work prior to initiating programs of research purporting to represent said communities is often forgone and treated as self-evident. This study demonstrates undertaking this task at the outset of a program of research by gathering member self-definitions of a relational, online and face-to-face community- the Fighting Game Community.Methods: Borrowing from social identity theory in social psychology, this study uses a prototypic approach and thematic content analysis with 319 open-ended descriptions of “good players” and “bad player” deviants.Results: In general, having a growth mindset and winning games were the most crucial amongst divergent themes. Of equal interest, definitions were not consensual across the community; some directly conflicted with one another. These definitions represented a community with fuzzy boundaries, that exists more as a multi-layered tapestry than a black-and-white unit with sharply delineated boundaries.

scholarly journals Dual routes from social identity to collective opposition to criminal organisations: Intracultural appropriation theory and the roles of honour codes and social change beliefs

2017 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 317-332 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giovanni A. Travaglino ◽  
Dominic Abrams ◽  
Giuseppina Russo
Keyword(s):  
Social Change ◽  
Social Identity ◽  
Collective Action ◽  
Social Identity Theory ◽  
Cultural Codes ◽  
Dual Route ◽  
Change Beliefs ◽  
Global Threat ◽  
Opposing Effects

Italian criminal organisations (COs) are a serious global threat. Intracultural appropriation theory (ICAT) holds that such groups exploit cultural codes of masculinity and honour to legitimise and lower resistance to their actions. Such codes are an important feature of Southern Italian group membership. A large survey ( N = 1,173) investigated the role of two previously underexamined facets of honour cultures—personal concerns for reputation, and female honour ideology. In addition, drawing on social identity theory, and testing a dual-route hypothesis, this research investigated the role of beliefs about the necessity of social change in the articulation between identification, honour, and collective action intentions. Consistent with ICAT, and with previous research, male-honour-related values uniquely predicted collective action intentions against criminal organisations. In addition, consistent with the dual-route hypothesis: (a) regional identification positively predicted social change beliefs which in turn explained stronger intentions to oppose COs collectively, and, (b) regional identification was also positively associated with masculine honour which in turn predicted weaker intentions to oppose COs. The evidence supports the idea that social identity can have opposing effects on collective action in the same context, depending on which beliefs are mobilised.

Learning From Moods, Emotions, and Experiences in Rehabilitation of Disability

2021 ◽  
pp. 138-160
Author(s):  
Kriti Mishra
Keyword(s):  
Social Psychology ◽  
Social Identity ◽  
Social Cognitive Theory ◽  
Learning Process ◽  
Social Identity Theory ◽  
Social Cognitive ◽  
Cognitive Theory ◽  
Identity Theory ◽  
Clinical Scenario ◽  
Learning Points

Experiences in multi-cultural rehabilitation settings involving individuals with disability (patients' culture) and those without disability (rehab professionals' culture) can be a great source of learning for both of them. The moods and emotions felt by patients often call for modification of approach and strategies using different interventions (like leisure and recreational activities) which leads to novel insights and experiences by the patients and the professionals alike. Therefore, the learning process as witnessed in rehabilitation is a continuous phenomenon for all those involved and has been explored in this chapter from perspective of social psychology using concepts of social cognitive theory and social identity theory. The chapter illustrates the above through a real clinical scenario and the consequent learning points that were taken back from the experience by the author, her rehab team, and the patients with a disability as a cohort.

scholarly journals Social Media Expression as a Collective Strategy: How Perceptions of Discrimination and Group Status Shape US Latinos’ Online Discussions of Immigration

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 205630512091400 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alcides Velasquez ◽  
Gretchen Montgomery
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Social Identity ◽  
Collective Action ◽  
Social Identity Theory ◽  
Perceived Discrimination ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Online Discussions ◽  
Group Status ◽  
Collective Strategy ◽  
Potential Use

The visibility and association affordances of social media facilitate their potential use for collective action, especially for marginalized and disempowered groups. Guided by social identity theory (SIT), this study examines how perceived discrimination and perceptions of personal and objective constraints on Latinos’ social status increase Latinos’ social media expression. The results indicate that increased perceived discrimination is associated with increased social media expression, especially for those who strongly endorse the use of collective strategies to improve the in-group’s status. Furthermore, status boundaries that are perceived to be impermeable due to objective and subjective barriers are also associated with increased social media expression, regardless of the participants’ reported need for collective action. The results are discussed regarding the relevant literature and theoretical implications are offered.

From disorder to coherence in social psychology

2004 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 356-356
Author(s):  
Todd K. Shackelford ◽  
Robin R. Vallacher
Keyword(s):  
Social Psychology ◽  
Social Cognition ◽  
Dynamical Systems ◽  
Evolutionary Psychology ◽  
Systems Theory ◽  
Dynamical Systems Theory ◽  
Base Rate ◽  
Cognitive Errors

Krueger & Funder (K&F) presuppose that the base rate for social cognition is more rational than is indicated by research, and that a focus on cognitive errors and behavioral shortcomings is responsible for the fragmented nature of social psychology. Insight concerning both issues is forthcoming from advances in evolutionary psychology and the adaptation of dynamical systems theory to social psychology.

scholarly journals Fostering social change among advantaged and disadvantaged group members: Integrating intergroup contact and social identity perspectives on collective action

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 26-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gian Antonio Di Bernardo ◽  
Loris Vezzali ◽  
Sofia Stathi ◽  
Shelley McKeown ◽  
Veronica Margherita Cocco ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
High School Students ◽  
Social Identity ◽  
Collective Action ◽  
Social Identity Theory ◽  
Intergroup Contact ◽  
Social Systems ◽  
School Students ◽  
Motivation For Change ◽  
Group Members

Recent research on intergroup contact has shown how interactions with outgroup members may both decrease and increase motivations to achieve social equality. Similarly, social identity theory has identified the conditions that lead individuals to challenge unequal social systems. Integrating these two major theories, the current study examined the processes underlying the relationship between intergroup contact and participants’ willingness to engage in collective action to challenge social inequality. Specifically, we tested sociostructural variables (status legitimacy and stability, and permeability of group boundaries) as potential mediators of contact in a sample of both advantaged (Italian high school students, N = 392) and disadvantaged (immigrant high school students, N = 165) group members. We found that contact was positively associated with motivation for change, an effect mediated by decreased perceived legitimacy of status differences. Moreover, for the advantaged group, membership salience moderated the effects of quality (but not quantity) of contact. Indirect effects were instead not moderated by content of contact (an index considering the extent to which contact was characterized by a focus on differences vs. commonalities between groups). Theoretical and practical implications of findings are discussed.

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