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Deviance as adherence to injunctive group norms: The overlooked role of social identification in deviance
Author(s) -
Crane Monique F.,
Platow Michael J.
Publication year - 2010
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 - 10.1348/014466609x481416
Subject(s) - deviance (statistics) , psychology , social psychology , moderation , group identification , norm (philosophy) , social norms approach , social identity theory , conformity , social group , developmental psychology , perception , law , statistics , mathematics , neuroscience , political science
We currently report three studies investigating group members' expressions of dissatisfaction and discontent with the behaviour and attitudes of their in‐group members. Our analysis examines the context in which group members will deviate from actual group member behaviour. We argue that highly identifying group members will challenge fellow group member behaviour when that group member behaviour is perceived to violate injunctive group norms. Further, we predicted that high identifiers would still challenge such group member behaviour even if that behaviour were conducted by a majority of group members. Thus, high identifiers were predicted to express descriptively deviant opinions when the behaviour of other members contravenes injunctive group norms. In Studies 1 and 2, group‐level self‐definition served as a moderator in the relationship between the expression of discontent and perceived injunctive norm violation; in Study 3, group‐level self‐investment served as this moderator. The findings supported our predictions. This support was particularly strong when a majority of group members violated group norms. Implications for the analysis of the relationship between social identification and deviance are discussed.