Open AccessHighlighting strengths in response to discrimination: Developing and testing an allyship positive psychology intervention
Author(s) -
Meg A. Warren,
Tejvir Sekhon,
Rachael J. Waldrop
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
international journal of wellbeing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 1179-8602
DOI - 10.5502/ijw.v12i1.1751
Subject(s) - psychology , strengths and weaknesses , sincerity , vitality , positive psychology , social psychology , intervention (counseling) , identity (music) , popularity , perception , gratitude , inclusion (mineral) , applied psychology , aesthetics , philosophy , theology , neuroscience , psychiatry
Allyship is gaining popularity as a tool to combat discrimination. We developed and tested a novel allyship positive psychology intervention (PPI). Importantly, we examined observers’ perceptions of intervention effectiveness given that observers represent the majority in many settings. Study 1 (N = 787) tested an intervention that highlighted a female employee’s identity-related strengths following a discrimination episode. Compared to communicating an organization’s diversity policy or confronting the transgressor, highlighting the target’s identity-related strengths was rated higher in terms of inclusion and vitality engendered in the target. Mediation analyses indicated that highlighting strengths was perceived as boosting the target’s vitality by signaling the ally’s sincerity and prompting inclusion. In Study 2 (N = 802), amongst various types of identity-related strengths, highlighting the target’s psychological and intellectual capital was as effective as highlighting all types of identity-related strengths combined, due to perceived sincerity. Thus, this research offers a quick, actionable and non-confrontational allyship PPI.