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That is how we do it around here: Levels of identification, masculine honor, and social activism against organized crime in the south of Italy
Author(s) -
Travaglino Giovanni A.,
Abrams Dominic,
Randsley de Moura Georgina,
Russo Giuseppina
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
european journal of social psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.609
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1099-0992
pISSN - 0046-2772
DOI - 10.1002/ejsp.2100
Subject(s) - honor , social dominance orientation , legitimacy , social psychology , psychology , identification (biology) , dominance (genetics) , criminology , gender studies , sociology , political science , law , politics , democracy , computer science , gene , biology , operating system , biochemistry , botany , authoritarianism , chemistry
Masculine honor is an important cultural code in the south of Italy. Italian criminal organizations (COs) manipulate and exploit this code to maintain legitimacy among local populations and exert social control in the territory where they operate. This research tested the hypothesis that different levels of identification—the region and the nation—would have opposite associations with male honor‐related values and, indirectly, with intentions to oppose COs collectively. Results from a sample of young southern Italians ( N = 170) showed that regional identification positively predicted endorsement of male honor‐related values, which in turn were associated with lowered intentions to oppose COs. In contrast, national identification negatively predicted male honor‐related values, associated in turn with stronger intentions to oppose COs. These results also held when perceived risk and social dominance orientation were taken into account. Directions for future research are discussed. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.