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Choosing to belong: The influence of choice on social identification and psychological sense of community
Author(s) -
Obst Patricia L.,
White Katherine M.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of community psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.585
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 1520-6629
pISSN - 0090-4392
DOI - 10.1002/jcop.20135
Subject(s) - salience (neuroscience) , psoc , identification (biology) , psychology , social psychology , sense of community , social identity theory , social group , cognitive psychology , computer science , botany , system on a chip , biology , operating system
The influence of choice on individuals' social identification and psychological sense of community (PSOC) with their group memberships is a seldom examined area. The current study examined participants' ( N = 219) level of social identification and PSOC across multiple group memberships that differ in the degree of choice associated with membership. In addition, consideration was given to the influence of contextual salience on the relationship between choice and social identification and PSOC. Results indicated that, controlling for contextual salience, choice was positively associated with levels of social identification and PSOC. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.