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Social identity as both cause and effect: The development of group identification in response to anticipated and actual changes in the intergroup status hierarchy
Author(s) -
Doosje Bertjan,
Spears Russell,
Ellemers Naomi
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
british journal of social psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.855
H-Index - 98
eISSN - 2044-8309
pISSN - 0144-6665
DOI - 10.1348/014466602165054
Subject(s) - identification (biology) , social identity theory , hierarchy , identifier , social psychology , psychology , solidarity , identity (music) , group identification , social hierarchy , social group , collective identity , group (periodic table) , computer science , political science , chemistry , botany , physics , organic chemistry , politics , law , acoustics , biology , programming language
This study investigates how in‐group identification develops during group interaction and forms a dynamic input and output that changes over time. Phase 1 of the study shows how initial level of identification in combination with anticipated changes in the intergroup status hierarchy, predicts subsequent levels of identification. Whereas low identifiers only express solidarity with their group to the extent that the improvement of group status constitutes a likely prospect, high identifiers maintain commitment even if their group faces an uncertain or bleak future. During Phase 2 of the study, it is shown how low and high identifiers respond differently to actual changes in the intergroup status structure. Overall, low identifiers seem more instrumental than high identifiers, in the sense that the former are only prepared to affirm identification with a low status group when status improvement is imminent, or has actually been realized. These results are discussed with reference to social identity theory.