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Optimal distinctiveness, social identity, and the self
... Human beings tend to engage in tedious in-group favouritism by stressing and over-estimating the similarities within the in-group and differences between the in-group and outgroups, thereby creating affinity bias -the propensity of people wanting to be around people they can relate to, based on embodied cultural capital (Brewer, 2003). Further, this affinity bias is an unconscious physiological reaction that is not only influencing personnel decisions but also impacting trust, therefore, inevitably affecting the quality of relationships, and, perhaps, even having a detrimental effect on the decisions people might make about projects and assignments (Turnbull, 2016). ...
... According to Brewer (2003), less familiarity of outgroup persons triggers anxiety without the individual being consciously aware of it. Stephan et al. (2005) found that the anticipation of interacting with international students provoked anxiety among home students. ...
... The different cultural and social capital that international faculty have may hamper their ability to access and interpret information. In addition, affinity bias -the proclivity of people desiring to be around people they can relate to, based on embodied cultural capital (Brewer, 2003) may lead to isolation and marginalisation of international faculty. ...
This paper investigates perceptual differences between international faculty and their US-born counterparts in job satisfaction, engagement with peers and administrators in teaching, research, and service, and their perception of administration's support. While international faculty felt equally committed to their job, they were less satisfied with their current position, less likely to feel valued by colleagues and less likely to agree that they had a good working relationship with their colleagues. They also felt they were the least supported group on campus even when controlling for race and gender. The study's focus was one comprehensive regional institution. Given that job satisfaction is related to motivation, productivity, and commitment to the organisation, the findings of this study point to the need for the institution to include an international component in its diversity efforts.
Keywords: cultural capital, diversity, engagement, higher education, international faculty, job satisfaction, social capital, social identity
... Arguably, one's family and friends might constitute a more relevant and salient target as well as a group with whom one shares more attributes and similarities, than larger group such as the nation, or the world. The smaller size of the closecircle group might even bolster the positive impact of conformity on social identity for the individual, as compared to a larger group (Brewer, 2003). In addition, an informational influence perspective (Deutsch & Gerard, 1955) suggests that people might believe that their close-circle group shares their own social reality more closely and therefore that their behaviour is a more relevant source of information than that of other people in different places or from a different background (Goldstein et al., 2008). ...
... Theoretically, there are different reasons why the close circle norm may have a stronger impact on behaviour. As we noted in the introduction, the close circle arguably constitutes a more relevant and salient group to the self (Christensen et al., 2004;Hogg, 2003) and conforming to its norms can have large positive effects on one's self-esteem (Brewer, 2003), also sustaining inclusion and avoiding derogation or ostracism (Marques et al., 2001). In addition, its perception as more similar and sharing the same social reality with the self might make its behaviour more informative and pertinent to address the uncertainty of the situation (Deutsch & Gerard, 1955; see also Goldstein et al., 2008). ...
A growing volume of work suggests a positive impact of descriptive norms on health-protective behaviour in the COVID-19 pandemic. However, past work has often been correlational and has rarely compared the effect of different group norms. In the present paper, we present the results of a longitudinal study (N=1051) that addresses these gaps by testing the cross-sectional and cross-lagged effects of norms, and directly compared three different norms (close circle, neighbourhood, and country) on compliance with COVID-19 regulations. Results revealed a positive effect of the close circle norm (associated with more compliant behaviour both cross-sectionally and longitudinally), no effect of the neighbourhood norm, and a negative effect of the national norm (associated with less compliant behaviour). Compliant behaviour also led to a greater close circle norm longitudinally, suggesting that both feed into each other. We discuss the challenges but also the chances this research highlights for norm-based interventions.
... Under the umbrella of SIT, Brewer's (2003) theory of optimal distinctiveness, states that an individual's social identification is motivated by two fundamental human needs: the need to belong and the need to be unique. In other words, HCIS motivates the immigrant employee to identify with the cultural group for which they will achieve positive social identity and feel a kinship with group members while on the other hand separate from cultural groups that they do not feel close to and aim to remain detached from (Forrest-Bank & Cuellar, 2018;Schwartz et al., 2006;Zagefka et al., 2009). ...
... In other words, HCIS motivates the immigrant employee to identify with the cultural group for which they will achieve positive social identity and feel a kinship with group members while on the other hand separate from cultural groups that they do not feel close to and aim to remain detached from (Forrest-Bank & Cuellar, 2018;Schwartz et al., 2006;Zagefka et al., 2009). Theoretically, as HCIS operates on a spectrum, it will allow immigrant employees to choose the cultural identity that is inclusive enough to be part of the host culture, while at the same time exclusive enough to be deemed as distinct from others (Brewer, 2003;Padilla & Perez, 2003). Hence, an immigrant employee on the lower spectrum of HCIS will differentiate themselves from both cultural groups and tap into a more salient identity (e.g., gender) to adapt to the working environment. ...
There has been growing interest among organizational researchers in the relationship between acculturation strategies and organizational outcomes of immigrant employees. However, what is noticeably missing from the literature on acculturation strategies is how cultural values such as heritage cultural identity salience affect an immigrant employee’s acculturation strategy and subsequent work attitude and behaviors. Drawing on Berry’s (1997) acculturation strategy and framework, we examined heritage cultural identity salience, harmony enhancement, integration and marginalization acculturation strategy, turnover intention, and affective commitment among immigrant employees in the USA. In this time-lagged study, we found that heritage cultural identity salience was negatively related to marginalization and positively related to integration. Harmony enhancement significantly buffered the relationship between heritage cultural identity salience and marginalization and integration, respectively. Heritage cultural identity salience had significant indirect effects on affective commitment via marginalization and both affective commitment and turnover intention via integration. Lastly, results from the moderated mediated analysis showed that the indirect effect of heritage identity salience on affective commitment and turnover intention via integration was significantly different at varying levels of harmony enhancement. Our study affirms existing research on acculturation strategy and extends the literature by introducing harmony enhancement as a moderator. The use of Berry’s (1997) framework and the results of this study provide useful insights into the inclusion and retention of immigrant employees in the US workforce. Practical implications, as well as theoretical contributions, are discussed.
... According to optimal distinctiveness theory by Brewer (2003), consumers seek an ideal balance between inclusion and distinctiveness among different social groups. These motives are contradictory, and other symbolic value associations may not result in incompatible behavior (Kessous and Valette-Florence, 2019). ...
... In that matter, consumers can enhance their identity and their self-confidence through using or buying luxury items (Deeter-Schmelz et al., 2000). On the other hand, consumers seek to disassociate themselves from non-prestige reference groups by using luxury brands, and at the same time, they seek to be associated with certain prestigious ones (Christodoulides et al., 2009), which is in accordance with optimal distinctiveness theory by Brewer (2003). Previous research regarding emerging markets supports that material possessions indicate the reference group individuals belong to (Siahtiri and Lee, 2019). ...
This research investigates what consumers in democratized luxury markets value when purchasing luxury items. Nonetheless, these consumers have a limited budget and can not always buy luxury items, yet they are drawn back to these luxury brands. Thus, we use brand engagement in self-concept (BESC) to explain the relationship between these consumers and luxury brands within democratized luxury markets. A conceptualized model of three luxury value dimensions (experiential, symbolic, and functional) is proposed, and 488 cases were gathered through a phone survey. The data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The results show that the most critical drivers of consumers' luxury purchase intention (LPI) are hedonism, escapism, conspicuousness, quality, and usability in democratized luxury markets. Also, BESC can unify luxury value dimensions into an integrated whole and mediate the relationship between them and LPI.
... Optimal distinctiveness theory (Brewer 1991) suggests the existence of a dynamic tension between competing drives for distinctiveness and inclusiveness. The origins of optimal distinctiveness theory are linked to evolutionary theory (Brewer 1999 (Brewer 2003). Optimal distinctiveness theory states that in-group distinctiveness must be equalized by assimilation, which is an independent yet opposing motive for group identification (Brewer 2003). ...
... The origins of optimal distinctiveness theory are linked to evolutionary theory (Brewer 1999 (Brewer 2003). Optimal distinctiveness theory states that in-group distinctiveness must be equalized by assimilation, which is an independent yet opposing motive for group identification (Brewer 2003). In other words, this theory suggests a continuum characterized by uniqueness at one extreme and homogeneity at the other. ...
... The social identity perspective (Abrams & Hogg, 2010;Tajfel & Turner, 1979) holds that group memberships at different levels of inclusiveness, and the identities they evoke, become salient in different contexts. The subjective prominence of these is affected by both cognitive (Turner et al., 1987) and motivational factors, such as self-enhancement (Tajfel & Turner, 1979) and desire for optimal distinctiveness (Brewer, 2003). Whether a particular social identity provides a focal basis for intentions and behavior is also responsive to external conditions. ...
... Self-categorization theory assumes that social identity is defined through a metacontrast principle, which always requires the presence of a noningroup category. Optimal distinctiveness theory (Abrams, 2009;Brewer, 2003) underlines that people are averse to being defined by overly inclusive superordinate categories, and the common ingroup identity model (Gaertner & Dovidio, 2009) explicitly highlights that a dual (shared plus distinctive) identity is often needed as a basis for improving intergroup relations. Uncertainty-identity theory argues and shows that people are motivated to reduce self-and identity uncertainty, and that group identification satisfies this motivation (Hogg, 2007). ...
COVID-19 is a challenge faced by individuals (personal vulnerability and behavior), requiring coordinated policy from national government. However, another critical layer—intergroup relations—frames many decisions about how resources and support should be allocated. Based on theories of self and social identity uncertainty, subjective group dynamics, leadership, and social cohesion, we argue that this intergroup layer has important implications for people’s perceptions of their own and others’ situation, political management of the pandemic, how people are influenced, and how they resolve identity uncertainty. In the face of the pandemic, initial national or global unity is prone to intergroup fractures and competition through which leaders can exploit uncertainties to gain short-term credibility, power, or influence for their own groups, feeding polarization and extremism. Thus, the social and psychological challenge is how to sustain the superordinate objective of surviving and recovering from the pandemic through mutual cross-group effort.
... This type of threat bears some resemblance to distinctiveness threat, which is experienced when the ingroup is perceived as indistinct from other groups (Branscombe et al., 1999). The need for group distinctiveness has been universally recognized (Brewer, 2003). In our case, feelings of threat do not result from the blurring of intergroup boundaries but from the prospect of losing the outgroup for future identity-relevant comparisons. ...
Social comparison theories suggest that ingroups are strengthened whenever important outgroups are weakened (e.g., by losing status or power). It follows that ingroups have little reason to help outgroups facing an existential threat. We challenge
this notion by showing that ingroups can also be weakened when relevant comparison outgroups are weakened, which can motivate ingroups to strategically offer help to ensure the outgroups’ survival as a highly relevant comparison target. In three
preregistered studies, we showed that an existential threat to an outgroup with high (vs. low) identity relevance affected strategic outgroup helping via two opposing mechanisms. The potential demise of a highly relevant outgroup increased
participants’ perceptions of ingroup identity threat, which was positively related to helping. At the same time, the outgroup’s misery evoked schadenfreude, which was negatively related to helping. Our research exemplifies a group’s secret desire for
strong outgroups by underlining their importance for identity formation.
... First, since publication constraints limit the length of a single paper, we consider the optimal amount of entrepreneurialphenomenon terrain a paper covers. Similar to optimal distinctiveness (Brewer, 2003), this concept involves making adequate reference to broad map features while also acknowledging the relevance of depth irrespective of the main orientation of the focal theoretical manuscript (deep or broad entrepreneurial theorizing). Entrepreneurship papers that fail to cover this optimally distinct amount of terrain have underutilized potential in contributing to the entrepreneurship literature. ...
While several editors and scholars have shared critical insights into the craft of writing a theory paper, there is an essential aspect of publishing a theory paper that is less understood: the process by which expert reviewers and authors engage in the review process, which has a significant influence on theory. We examine critiques and responses to entrepreneurship theorizing to identify three major challenges of entrepreneurship theorizing: (1) the scope of the entrepreneurship paper’s theorizing being either too narrow or too shallow; (2) the common features of the paper’s contextualization, boundary conditions, and time considerations ; and (3) the “point of view” of the entrepreneurship paper’s perspective —theoretical, philosophical, level, and purpose . This chapter offers a framework that guides (1) entrepreneurship scholars to find a balance to maximize their contributions and (2) reviewers and editors on managing the revise-and-resubmit process to advance the entrepreneurship field.
... First, since publication constraints limit the length of a single paper, we consider the optimal amount of entrepreneurialphenomenon terrain a paper covers. Similar to optimal distinctiveness (Brewer, 2003), this concept involves making adequate reference to broad map features while also acknowledging the relevance of depth irrespective of the main orientation of the focal theoretical manuscript (deep or broad entrepreneurial theorizing). Entrepreneurship papers that fail to cover this optimally distinct amount of terrain have underutilized potential in contributing to the entrepreneurship literature. ...
... Despite these explorative results needed further investigations, it was possible that the activation of the human level, due to its abstract nature, generated a defensive counter-reaction from the interlocutor, who therefore tended to use less abstract levels of inclusiveness (i.e., the personal, cultural, and social ones). This insight was in line with Brewer's (2003) optimal distinctiveness. In other words, we could argue that individuals positioned themselves on the human level of inclusiveness because of their need for assimilation; however, such positioning could activate a need for distinctiveness in the interlocutors, pushing them to move to different and more concrete levels of inclusiveness. ...
Scholars interested in studying the effects of online intergroup contact on reducing prejudice are increasing. However, there is still a lack of evidence on the implications of the Self. The present study aims to fill this gap, considering the Dialogical Self as theoretical framework. It explored which clusters of I-Positions emerged during online intergroup dialogue, and whether and to what extent these clusters related with contact quality and prejudice. Data was collected from eight undergraduate students (females: 4; Mage = 23.63, SDage = 4.00), from majority (i.e., Italians; n = 4) and minority (i.e., non-Italians; n = 4). A pre- and post- dialogue procedure was administered. Results suggested
the existence of four clusters with different levels of inclusiveness – i.e., personal, cultural, social and human. Furthermore, results suggested the existence of different trends based on individuals’ membership to the majority or the minority group. Specifically, while personal and cultural I-Positions were negatively related with prejudice in majority group, social and human I-Positions were positively related with prejudice in minority one. Despite their explorative nature, these results should be useful to take a step forward in understanding the identity processes activated during intergroup dialogue.
Imperato, C., & Mancini, T. (2022). A constructivist point of view on intergroup relations. Online intergroup contact, Dialogical Self and prejudice reduction. Psicologia Sociale, 17(3), 359-380.
... With the growing heterogeneity of contemporary states and the multiplicity of identities in federal countries like Nigeria, parochialists may fail to see their preferences addressed or realized at the national level. In accordance with social identity theory, the threat to group distinctiveness and autonomy motivates over-exclusion and intergroup differentiation for subnational exclusivists (Brewer and Roccas 2001). Numerous studies show that in regions with a distinct cultural or political history, ethno-regional and national identities are perceived as incompatible (Risse 2010, 71;Brigevich 2012;Carey 2002). ...
In this article, we evaluate the impact of ethnic and national identities on satisfaction with democracy in Nigeria, a state with deep historical ethno-regional divisions. Applying Easton’s (1965 Easton, D. 1965. A Systems Analysis of Political Life. New York: Wiley. [Google Scholar]) seminal framework of diffuse versus specific support, we examine how Nigerians combine their ethnic and national identities (diffuse support), and analyze the extent to which territorial identities influence democratic satisfaction vis-à-vis evaluative factors (specific support), such as trust in institutions and the current government’s performance in addressing the needs of its citizens. We employ a multilevel model using the seventh round of the Nigeria Afrobarometer survey. We find that a dominant ethnic identity does decrease democratic satisfaction. However, a number of specific support measures, such as trust in the state and local governments and evaluations of the government’s economic performance are stronger predictors. We interpret this as a decline in the salience of the ethnic cleavage in Nigeria.
... Hybrid music might sound like an awkward mash-up or be seen as "culture-lite." People often prefer to see clear differences between ingroups and outgroups that provide groups with clear entitativity (Brewer, 2003). This interpretation is in line with the negative effect of need-for-uniqueness on collaborative music consumption: those who sought uniqueness apparently did not want a "watered-down" cultural experience. ...
Intergroup contact research demonstrates that contact with outgroups (including mediated contact) improves attitudes about those groups. However, people often avoid such contact, including avoiding outgroup media messages. In two studies, we investigated voluntary exposure to outgroup media. Our research builds on intergroup contact theory and the reactive approach model. The latter suggests (counterintuitively) that, sometimes, anxiety can motivate people to engage with the unfamiliar. Both studies measured potential predictors of voluntary contact, provided musical options for respondents, and measured which options people chose as well as their engagement with and enjoyment of those choices. Study 1 provided a simple choice between two musical options (ingroup versus outgroup); Study 2 used a more extensive array of ingroup and outgroup options, including ingroup-outgroup collaborative music. Findings suggest a limited role of personality traits in determining seeking outgroup media, but a more powerful role for diversity-related attitudes and past exposure to outgroup media. Some evidence supported reactive approach models (e.g., self-expansion motives drove time spent listening to outgroup media in Study 1, but only for people who reported high levels of intergroup anxiety).
... Bedrohung sozialer Identität (Doosje et al., 2002). Die Zugehörigkeit zu einer sozialen Gruppe und die damit verbundene soziale Identität dient unter anderem der Aufrechterhaltung des Selbstwertes einer Person (Brewer, 2003 ...
... A broad range of disciplines that incorporated discussions on graffiti, associated the phenomenon with everything that is bad; street wars, gangsterism, vandalism, territoriality, and dirty language (Mangeya, 2014;Reiss, 2007;Pardue, 2005;Kan, 2001) Most of these researchers who examined autographical graffiti as a sociological research topic, presumably written by gang members and associated it with gangsterism, territoriality and street wars. Brewer (2003) outlined how her students explored Hungarian graffiti. The students began the project with the belief that graffiti would be humorous, political, and philosophical, but instead found that it contained sexual references, profanity, and vandalism. ...
This study explores the sociocultural construction of male identities in informal spaces in learning institutions. Focus is placed on spaces such as boys' toilets in secondary boarding schools in Gutu District of Zimbabwe. Considering the central purpose of graffiti as communication, this study has discussed graffiti as an important object of sociocultural theory. The study is purely qualitative and has adopted a phenomenological design that is interpretive in nature. Purposive sampling was very helpful in selecting the seven secondary boarding schools in Gutu District as information-rich cases while random sampling was used to determine participants. Group and individual interviews were carried out for data collection. Those interviews were guided by semi-structured open-ended questions which were audio-recorded in some cases. Verbatim data was immediately transcribed after the interviews together with the researcher's observations. A digital camera was also used to capture some graffiti texts on the walls. Data analysis followed the Van Kaam 7-steps of data analysis. The findings of this study indicate that boys in secondary boarding schools appropriate the medium of graffiti to build masculine 'virtues' and 'ideals' in an open engagement with issues and questions concerning their sexuality in the toilet. The findings might be interesting not only to secondary boarding students, educators, administrators, teachers, and parents in Zimbabwe but also to a wider audience in different societies in the world. It can be recommended that students' graffiti should be studied because there is something that students are communicating.
... However, identity issues are still quite noticeable in emerging adulthood (Schwartz et al., 2005); identity formation clearly has not been achieved fully by the end of adolescence. Values are considered to play a central role in personal identity (Brewer and Roccas, 2001;Verplanken and Holland, 2002), and even though a 14-year-old is already equipped with the cognitive apparatus to subscribe to a differentiated set of personal values, adolescents and later on emerging adults seemingly go through an increasingly more difficult process of questioning and reestablishing their personal values to achieve the status of an adult and form their identity (Arnett, 1997). These identity processes are happening inside a multiplicity of social contexts via social roles individuals occupy (Gergen and Gergen, 1997). ...
Emerging adults establish, question, and reestablish their values within the most diverse social contexts. Every social context privileges expressing certain values and/or punishes expressing conflicting ones. This makes a similarity between one’s own values and those preferred in one’s life contexts psychologically desirable (person–environment fit). This study focuses on the similarity of individuals’ values with the perceived values of important others from five immediate social contexts, namely, family, friends, intimate partner, study group, and work group, and their relationship with life satisfaction. The sample consisted of emerging adults from Serbia interacting with the five mentioned contexts ( N = 479). A mobile app with a game-like survey was launched to collect the data. The data indicated a positive association between life satisfaction and perceived value similarity with one’s family and with one’s intimate partner. Value similarity with friends and study and work colleagues emerged as insignificant. Identity centrality and the general importance of the immediate social contexts were studied as possible moderators. Identity centrality showed no moderation effect, whereas general importance of the intimate partner did: High importance of the intimate partner decreased the positive effect of value similarity on well-being.
... An explanation for this observation can be found in the optimal distinctiveness theory. Optimal distinctiveness theory defends the thesis of individuals seeking an optimal balance between desires for distinctiveness and assimilation (Brewer, 1991;2003). It postulates that the desire for greater intragroup assimilation and, simultaneously, greater intergroup differentiation, leads to changes in the perception of group homogeneity (Pickett & Brewer, 2001). ...
In Cameroon, a country which has undergone a double French/British administration (1916-1961), the cohabitation between Francophones and Anglophones since 1961 is far from having erased the intergroup differences linked to their respective colonial pasts. On the contrary, over time, it has generated what has been called the Anglophone problem. In this context, is the strong tendency towards the schooling of students from francophone families in schools of the anglophone sub-system of education likely to attenuate intergroups cleavages? From the theoretical perspective of social identity, this research suggests that the perceived similarity between Anglophones and anglophonized francophones generates a threat to the specific Anglophones' linguistic identity. To test this hypothesis, the optimal distinctiveness and intergroup threat scales were administered to 462 Anglophones participants of both sexes. The correlation and linear regression analyzes provide empirical support for the hypothesis of the study. An adjusted R2 index validates the existence of a causal relationship between perceived similarity and intergroup threat.
... According to Brewer (2003) every individual strives to balance social class and inclusiveness, illustrating the snob and peer conformance trends among highly affluent customers. Brewer (1991) referred to these effects as the "optimal distinctiveness theory", which involves two types of social need: the desire for conformity and the need to be unique. ...
... According to Brewer (2003) every individual strives to balance social class and inclusiveness, illustrating the snob and peer conformance trends among highly affluent customers. Brewer (1991) referred to these effects as the "optimal distinctiveness theory", which involves two types of social need: the desire for conformity and the need to be unique. ...
In business and management research, studies on the bandwagon effect are growing while remaining dispersed and multi-faceted. Against this backdrop, researchers in the field of business and management face challenges in contributing to and further advancing the state-of-the-art in a direction that is helpful to academicians and practitioners. The primary intent of this study is to epistemologically review the state of literature on bandwagon effect using a systematic literature review. The study further seeks to develop a future research agenda by analyzing the theoretical evolution, the methodological patterns, and the interrelationships of constructs within different contexts in the extant literature. Publication trends, the dissemination of articles in journals, theoretical background, methodological patterns, examination of constructs, and contexts employed in the study of the bandwagon effect from 1970 to 2021 have been meticulously identified and analyzed. Researchers, management thinkers, and practitioners of consumer psychology and behavioral research can benefit from the specific evidence on the bandwagon effect.
... Further, authenticity is thought to be related to people caring about how others view them, and this social influence contributes to the formation of self-identity (Wallace & Tice, 2012). Indeed, Brewer and Roccas (2001) showed that the desire to meet others' expectations and to increase social acceptance are major motives to acting authentically. Therefore, we proposed that authenticity would influence the relationship between sense of entitlement and entrepreneurial intention. ...
We examined the effect of sense of entitlement on students' entrepreneurial intention, and assessed attitude toward entrepreneurship as a mediator and authenticity as a moderator of this relationship. Data were collected from 265 Chinese undergraduate students. The effect of sense of entitlement on participants' entrepreneurial intention was supported. In addition, attitude mediated the link between the sense of entitlement and entrepreneurial intention, and authenticity moderated this link. We explored how participants' sense of entitlement that stems from personality traits relates to their entrepreneurial intention, and our results have implications for improvement of entrepreneurial intention and practice.
... The higher the team-member exchange, the greater the mutuality of relationships (Liao et al., 2010) and consequently the higher would be the sacrifice of self-interest for the purpose of benefitting one's co-workers within one's team (Seers and Chopin, 2012). Therefore, this paper posits TTL as the construct that captures team members' need for within-team belongingness (Brewer and Roccas, 2001). Accordingly, the concept of TTL is defined as the "collective influence of team members on each other" (Sivasubramaniam et al., 2002, p. 68) through the display of transformational leadership behaviors. ...
... This concept has been studied by researchers with different theories. The most frequently used theories are "Optimal Distinctiveness Theory" (Brewer M.,1991;Brewer &Roccas, 2001) and "Social Identity Theory" (Tajfel H., 1982). Researchers using these theories argue that they represent an important context in which individuals make sense of themselves (Duru, 2020). ...
... Jedna od sila koje mogu djelovati u procesima socijalne identifikacije je nalaženje balansa između kontradiktornih potreba uključenosti u grupu (biti sličan drugima) i želje da se bude različit u odnosu na druge (biti jedinstven). Optimalna različitost predstavlja taj balans (Brewer, 2005). U jako malim grupama previše je zadovoljena želja za različitošću, dok je u velikim grupama previše zadovoljena potreba za sličnošću, pa je jedan od zaključaka ove teorije da će ljudi biti najzadovoljniji u grupama srednje veličine. ...
... Because audiences tend to seek a balance in types of communication they receive, campaign planners should select channels that are complementary in their attributes (Ledford 2012). Decisions in campaign design can also draw on the social identity perspective, which highlights the importance of social identities in meeting selfesteem and other needs (Brewer 2003;Tajfel and Turner 1986). Messages should be designed to reflect the values and attributes of key groups and ideally be conveyed through channels distinctive to these groups. ...
A mixed-media approach is the strategic combination of traditional, digital, and community based channels within the same campaign to deliver content to and engage audiences in the most meaningful contexts in their everyday lives. Within the framework of a comprehensive social marketing campaign, such an approach can serve essential promotional and communication functions, while enhancing other components in
the social marketing mix and paying special attention to digital channels aimed at youth as heavy users of digital media. We describe the features of mixed-media approaches and provide an example of this approach that has been used to prevent substance use among youth in US communities.
... Positive distinctiveness is based on establishing uniqueness by emphasising the differences between oneself and others upon valued criteria (Brewer, 2003). The distinctiveness principle motivates people to seek to be different in ways that are condoned within one's culture or sub-culture . ...
This paper describes a model of identity resilience developed within social psychology and derived specifically from the basic tenets of Identity Process Theory (IPT). Identity resilience refers to the extent to which an individual possesses an identity structure that: facilitates adaptive coping in the face of threat or uncertainty, can absorb change while retaining its subjective meaning and value, and is perceived to be able to cope with threat or trauma without experiencing permanent undesired change. Identity resilience is defined as a relatively stable self-schema based on self-esteem, self-efficacy, positive distinctiveness and continuity. This paper describes how identity resilience can be measured. It presents findings from two empirical studies: one on gay men of recollecting negative coming out experiences; the other on COVID-19 fear and perceived personal risk. Both provide evidence that greater identity resilience is associated with more adaptive reactions, less undesired identity change, and less negative affect after thinking about aversive experiences.
... According to Fromkin (1972) too little uniqueness leads to action aimed at more distinction and dissimilarity (see also Fromkin, 1970 (Zimbardo, 1969, p. 305). Similarly, the theory of optimal distinctiveness (Brewer, 1991;Brewer & Roccas, 2001) postulated that groups that are too large fail to satisfy the need for differentiation and motivate the individual to regain individuation by strategies like mentally shrinking in-group size (Pickett, Silver & Brewer, 2002) or identifying with more distinct groups (e.g., Brewer & Pickett, 1999; for a review see Hornsey & Jetten, 2004). ...
People try to be unique or distinct from others in their group. Again they do not like to be entirely different from their peers. This study is based the responses of a questionnaire distributed to middle class managers in various private organisations in India. A sample size of 99 is randomly considered and the data is analysed using various tests like Mean scores, Correlation, ANOVA test, Regression, and Curve fitting. The tendency of showing uniqueness varies from person to person with reference to their age. Here three aspects of showing uniqueness are considered. Those are being traditional or stereotyped, expressing their opinions boldly in public and being unique by doing something unique are tested against the age. This paper may be helpful for the managers to predict the behaviour and attitudes of the people in relation to their age in the mentioned aspects of the uniqueness.
... On the contrary, when the group's or environment's elements are overwhelming in number, characteristics and affordances, individuals' need for inclusion decreases and they tend to search for differentiation by resorting to individualistic values [27]. ...
Studies highlighted relationships between individuals' socio-cultural values and collective behaviors on one hand, and between behaviors and attributes of related environments on the other. This formulates the research problem, as few studies tackled the impact of environments on values; mostly were theoretically oriented without empirical investigation. The present work proposes that urban environments can lead to change in values' tendencies (individualistic and collectivistic) by developing a relational model that combines theoretical findings and empirical assessment, to enable designers to trace the impact of design elements on values. Using the identity dynamics, the research investigates their different types, shaped by social groups and environments, resulting in different complexities that, in-turn generate different values. Middle-income gated communities were used as controlled limited scale urban environments to explore complexities of design elements; where two questionnaires were conducted; the designers', to start the model's formulation; followed by the residents', to complete the proposed framework/model, and enable reading and developing the relation. The model supported the work propositions that; the more complex the environment an individual lives in, the more complex his identity is, and the more individualistic values he is likely to hold and vice versa.
... Researchers [e.g., 31,5,37,40] argued that people may have desires for conspicuous consumptions in order to influence other's perceptions about themselves, acquiring and using niche products can serve such a desire. SNS users would thus decide to use niche SNSs to achieve their intended level of differentiation from others. ...
Usually considered as internal representations of self-concepts, the individual-self and the collective-self have been primarily studied in social and personality psychology while the experimental and theoretical advances of the cognitive and neurophysiological mechanisms of these self-representations are poorly understood. Two competing hypotheses emerge to understand their structure: first, each self-representation corresponds to a specific and independent dimension of self-concept and therefore conceptualized as separate cognitive components and different brain networks are predicted; and second, both selfs, collective and individual, are part of the same structure and interdependent, sharing similar networks and showing a hierarchical organization from a core-self. Both perspectives have some support from current theories from social psychology, but still speculative and faintly supported by empirical evidence. To test this, we designed an experiment using sentences that would activate the individual or collective self representations in 80 healthy right-handed participants. We use reaction-times during a decision-making task, in combination with an individualism/collectivism scales and characterize the neural dynamics throughout the experiment using event-related potentials and fronto-parietal informational connectivity networks. Participants reacted slower to the collective than individual self conditions, and showed differences in neural activity and information Integration level that distinguished between each type of self. More importantly, the neural integration measure representing the core-self (subtraction between individual and collective wSMI) was only associated to the individualism scores but not collectivism, lending further support for the Core-self perspective. We interpret that the collective self, in the broader sense, is a part of the self-concept and therefore probably assembled from the core-self.
Why are political conversations uncomfortable for so many people? The current literature focuses on the structure of people's discussion networks and the frequency with which they talk about politics, but not the dynamics of the conversations themselves. In What Goes Without Saying, Taylor N. Carlson and Jaime E. Settle investigate how Americans navigate these discussions in their daily lives, with particular attention to the decision-making process around when and how to broach politics. The authors use a multi-methods approach to unpack what they call the 4D Framework of political conversation: identifying the ways that people detect others' views, decide whether to talk, discuss their opinions honestly—or not, and determine whether they will repeat the experience in the future. In developing a framework for studying and explaining political discussion as a social process, What Goes Without Saying will set the agenda for research in political science, psychology, communication, and sociology for decades to come.
Resumen La investigación se interesa tanto en variables ecológicas como identitarias (sociales) que participan en el aumento del compromiso ambiental en el cuidado antártico. Dos estudios con habitantes del sur austral de dos ciudades, y otro con una muestra nacional de tres zonas geográficas diferentes (norte, centro y sur) participaron contestando una encuesta autoaplicada. Los instrumentos midieron la percepción de responsabilidad personal en el cuidado antártico en el presente y futuro, la valoración antártica, la identidad regional ecológica antártica y creencias ambientales. Los resultados centrales muestran que la identificación con el territorio antártico resulta importante para determinar la percepción de responsabilidad y compromiso en su cuidado, y que este proceso es mediado por el valor que se le otorga al continente helado. Dicha mediación se observó tanto en la muestra de locales como de nacionales. Se discuten estos resultados en torno a la importancia de considerar variables identitarias al desarrollar modelos orientados al fomento de la actitud proecológica.
The research is interested in both ecological and identity (social) variables involved in increasing environmental commitment to Antarctic care. Two studies with inhabitants of two cities in the extreme south, and another with a national sample from three different geographical areas (north, center and south) participated by answering a self-administered survey. The instruments measured the perception of personal responsibility for Antarctic care in the present and future, Value of Antarctica, Antarctic regional ecological identity, and environmental beliefs. The core results show that identification with the Antarctic territory is important in determining the perception of responsibility and commitment to its care, and that this process is mediated by the value given to the polar continent. This mediation was observed in both the sample of locals and nationals. These results are discussed in relation to the importance of considering identity variables when developing models that aim to promote a pro-ecological attitude.
Do the clothes worn to work impact employees’ thoughts and behaviors? Despite the universal necessity of wearing clothes and the fact that employees make decisions about this daily, organizational scholars have not yet addressed this question. We integrated sociometer and enclothed cognition theories to propose that aspects of clothing—their aesthetics, conformity, and uniqueness—hold symbolic meanings that have implications for employees’ state self-esteem and subsequent task and relational behaviors (i.e., goal progress, social avoidance). We first provide evidence for the nature of the symbolic meanings associated with these three dimensions of work clothing in a set of within-person experimental studies. Then, the results of a 10-day field study of employees from four organizations generally supported our predictions, showing that daily clothing aesthetics and uniqueness had effects on state self-esteem and downstream behavioral consequences. The effects of daily clothing conformity emerged under the condition of greater interaction frequency with others in the workplace. Our manuscript contributes to both major theories from which we draw and further offers theoretical and practical contributions to the literature on organizational clothing.
Purpose
This study seeks to identify the role that peer team members' behaviors and superiors' preferences play in influencing the likelihood that staff auditors engage in dysfunctional audit behavior (DAB).
Design/methodology/approach
This study uses an experiment that manipulates peer team member behavior (DAB present or DAB absent) and superior preference (efficiency or effectiveness). Students enrolled in a graduate accounting course, proxying for inexperienced staff auditors, receive an internal control sample selection task. Participants assess the likelihood that a typical staff auditor would engage in DAB or non-DAB.
Findings
First, staff auditors with a peer team member who engages in DAB are more likely to engage in DAB. Second, staff auditors who have a superior with a preference toward efficiency are more likely to engage in DAB. Finally, when considered simultaneously, the effect of the superior's preference on the likelihood of staff auditors engaging in DAB is not different for staff auditors, subject to a peer engaging in DAB versus those subject to a peer who engaged in a non-DAB.
Research limitations/implications
This study uses a hypothetical audit team, a written script of team member communication, and students proxying for inexperienced staff auditors. As such, future studies might consider improving the realism of the team setting, the manner in which a message is portrayed, and implications at higher levels within the audit team hierarchy.
Practical implications
Team interactions contribute to the prevalence of DAB within the profession. Specifically, inexperienced auditors are influenced by the behavior of peer and superior team members and this may be one cause of the prevalence of DAB within the profession. As such, future firm considerations could include well-structured mentorship programs and rewards structures.
Originality/value
This study adds to the audit team literature by investigating the influence of audit team dynamics on staff auditors' behaviors. This paper extends the current audit team literature, that is mostly focused on supervisor–subordinate relationships, by investigating social influences from peers and superiors. This study's findings inform public accounting firms of areas in which personnel may negatively affect audit quality through intra-team interactions.
Mainstream risk assessment frameworks such as TRAP-18, ERG22+, VERA-2R, and RADAR largely use Structured Professional Judgement to map individuals against four critical factors; ideology, affiliation, grievance, and moral emotions. However, the growing use of online communication platforms by extremists presents a series of opportunities to complement or extend existing risk assessment frameworks. Here, we examine linguistic markers of morality and emotion in ideologically diverse online discussion groups and discuss their relevance to extant risk assessment frameworks. Specifically, we draw on social media data from the Reddit platform collected across a range of community topics. Nine hundred and eighty-eight threads containing 272,298 individual comments were processed before constructing high-order models of moral emotions. Emotional and moral linguistic content was then derived from these comments. We then conducted comparisons of linguistic content between mainstream left and right political discourse, anti-Muslim (far-right), Men’s Rights (Incel-like), and a nonviolent apolitical control group. Results show that a combination of individualising moral communication and high emotionality separate far-right and Incel-like groups from mainstream political discourse and provide an early warning opportunity.
Financial instruments are the subject of considerable interest. The supply of promissory notes has attracted the attention of financial historians, political economists and antiquarians, alike. We consider bank notes as a mechanism for building corporate identity. The article focuses on the bank notes that were issued in the early nineteenth century by newly established joint stock banks in the English provinces. Despite not having a legal personality, which could be separated from the bank’s owners, the banks did not use symbols of the owners, such as family crests or other personal means, to communicate their identity. The article shows that these notes displayed symbols of a collective culture and regional identity. We argue that this was crucial to building the bank’s position within the local commercial community and in generating a persona which customers could trust.
Diversity ist als Begriff und Konzept allgegenwärtig. Während es zunächst darum ging, die Interessen sozial benachteiligter Gruppen zu berücksichtigen, sollte Diversity Management auch dazu beitragen, die vielfältigen Leistungen und Erfahrungen unterschiedlicher Menschen als Potenzial zu begreifen und zu nutzen. Doch kann die alltägliche Praxis des Diversity Managements diese originären Ziele noch halten – und konnte sie es je? Johanna Degen analysiert aus kritisch-sozialpsychologischer Perspektive die gelebte Praxis in der deutschen Wirtschaft anhand von Expert:inneninterviews.
Durch die Auswertung subjektiver Erfahrungen von Vorständ:innen, CEOs, Manager:innen, Arbeitnehmer:innen und Arbeitssuchenden wird deutlich, dass das ausgeübte Diversity Management nurmehr – wenig überraschend – organisationale und kapitalistische Interessen schützt. Die Autorin zeigt darüber hinaus auf, wie Gruppendynamiken entstehen, in denen letzten Endes die Subjekte auf sich selbst zurückgeworfen werden und gezwungen sind, sich von den eigenen Werten und vom Problemgegenstand der sozialen Ungleichheit zu entfremden. Durch die Fokussierung auf die Frage, warum Diversity Management so nicht funktionieren kann, werden zugleich auch Lösungsrichtungen verdeutlicht.
본 논문은 최근 주목을 받고 있는 공정성 인식에서의 상사 역할에 주목하여 그 효과성을 파악하고자 하였다. 연구의 목적은 상사 공정성이 조직 구성원의 조직 지향적 행동에 미치는 영향과 그 심리적 기제를 확인하는 것으로, 다중초점 공정성과 동일시 개념을 바탕으로 조직 구성원이 인식한 상사 공정성이 구성원의 조직지향 조직시민행동(OCBO)와 조직지향 반생산적 직무행동(CWBO)에 미치는 영향을 조사하였다. 상사 공정성이 OCBO 및 CWBO와 유의한 관계가 있을 것으로 보았으며, 구성원의 상사 동일시와 조직 동일시가 상사 공정성과 OCBO 및 CWBO의 관계를 매개할 것이라고 예상하였다. 마지막으로, 상사의 조직 전형성이 조직 동일시를 통한 상사 공정성의 간접적 효과를 조절할 것이라고 보았다. 연구 결과, 상사 공정성은 OCBO와 유의한 정적 관계를 보였으며, CWBO와는 유의한 관계가 나타나지 않았다. 상사공정성과 OCBO, CWBO의 관계에서 상사동일시 및 조직동일시의 매개효과의 경우 상사 공정성의 영향으로 조직 구성원이 조직에 동일했을 때 상사 공정성은 OCBO와 CWBO 모두와 유의한 관계를 갖는 것으로 나타났다. 반면, 구성원이 상사에 동일시 했을때에는 상사 공정성이 OCBO와는 간접적인 정적 관계를 보이지만 CWBO에는 유의한 간접효과가 나타나지 않는 것으로 확인됐다. 마지막으로 상사 조직 전형성의 조절된 매개효과를 확인한 결과, 상사의 조직 전형성은 조직 동일시를 매개로 한 상사 공정성과 OCBO 및 CWBO의 관계를 조절하는 것으로 나타났다. 구체적으로, OCBO를 향한 매개 효과는 정적으로 강화된 반면, CWBO를 향한 매개 효과는 부적으로 강화되었다. 본 연구 결과는 상사 공정성이 조직에 대한 행동으로 확대되는 과정에서 동일시가 형성되는 대상에 따른 차별적 효과를 보여주었으며, 이 때 상사의 조직 전형성이 이를 조절할 수 있음을 확인하였다. 본 연구 결과에 기초하여 함의 및 한계점을 논의하였다.
The purpose of the study. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted sporting events, which led to the cancellation of games and student-athletes being isolated at home and conducting their training online. The study looked at how student-athletes view themselves and their levels of optimism before and during the pandemic. Materials and methods. The study is a descriptive quantitative research that adapted the constructs of the Athletic Identity Measurement Scale (AIMS) and Revised Life Orientation Test (LOT-R). Slovin’s formula and stratified random sampling were used to select the respondents. Google Form was used to gather data on the 154 UST-IPEA student-athletes. For data analysis, Microsoft Data Analysis ToolPak was used as statistical software. Results. The results show that the factors of Level of Optimism, namely: Gender, Typology of Sports, and Competitive Level, do not affect the student-athletes Level of Optimism before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, the factors of Athletic Identity, namely: Gender, Year Level, and Socioeconomic Status, do not affect the student-athletes’ Athletic Identity before the COVID-19 pandemic. However, one factor that affects the student-athletes’ Athletic Identity during the COVID-19 pandemic is the Typology of Sports. To sum up, the Athletic Identity and Level of Optimism possess a weak correlation. Conclusions. . Based on the results of the study, it is concluded to regularly monitor the student-athletes’ Athletic Identity and Level of Optimism by taking the Athletic Identity Measurement Scale (AIMS) by Brewer & Cornelius (2001) and Revised Life Orientation Test (LOT-R)).
Yükseköğretim, neoliberalizm ekseninde bir yeniden yapılanma
sürecinden geçmekte; bu süreçte daha önceden kendisine yabancı olan
değerler ile yeni bir forma bürünmektedir. Bir yandan genişleme,
özelleşme, ticarileşme ve uluslararasılaşma gibi küresel eğilimler, diğer
taraftan üniversite sıralamaları ve kalite güvencesi sistemleri gibi yeni
kalite göstergeleri yükseköğretim kurumsal çevresinin bir parçası haline
gelmektedir. Makro düzeyde yükseköğretim kurumsal çevresindeki
gelişmeleri Türkiye özelinde değerlendiren bu teorik çalışma, alanyazında
‘Mikrokurumsalcılık’ olarak ifade edilen teorik perspektifi incelemektedir.
Makro düzeyde kurumsal çevrenin örgütler üzerindeki eşbiçimci etkilerini
kabul etmesinin yanı sıra, mikro düzeyde örgütsel bileşenleri kapsayan bu
teorik perspektif, daha bütüncül örgütsel analizlere olanak tanıyabilecek
niteliktedir. Özellikle, örgütsel kimliğin kurumsal çevreden örgüte nüfuz
eden baskı ve talepleri anlamlandırmadaki rolü nedeniyle Yeni
Kurumsalcılık ve örgütsel kimlik perspektiflerinin bütünleştirilmesinin
gerekliliği alanyazında tartışılmaktadır. Bu doğrultuda, Mikrokurumsalcılık teorik perspektifi, yükseköğretim örgütlerinin
kurumsal çevre ile ilişkileri sonucunda oluşabilecek benzeşme ve
ayrıklaşma süreçlerine yönelik daha kapsamlı bir bakış açısı sunarak
örgütsel davranış ve değişimi açıklayabilir.
There is now a substantial body of literature on the coping strategies used by workers employed in stigmatized dirty work. However, there is insufficient knowledge about what resources they use while employing these strategies, what factors impact resource availability and utilization for coping, and how the utilization of resources leads to differential coping. Our study fills these gaps. First, using meta-synthesis of 39 qualitative studies, we consolidate the resources these workers use to cope into six categories. Second, the study discusses what factors impact resource availability and utilization by proposing the role of occupational prestige as a determining factor. Third, borrowing from conservation of resources theory and self-affirmation theory, this study proposes resources as facilitators of self-affirmations leading to differential coping. Finally, we propose a conceptual framework along with propositions depicting how dissonance, caused by inconsistency in self-integrity, leads to the use of various resources for differential coping.
Der Schlüssel zu erfolgreicher Kommunikation zwischen Führungsperson und Mitarbeitenden liegt darin, einen gemeinsamen Rahmen zu haben. Zunächst wird dargestellt, welchen Beitrag der Social Identity Approach zur Schaffung gemeinsamer Normen und Werte zwischen Führungsperson und Mitarbeitenden leistet, um dann empirische Arbeiten zur Relevanz der sozialen Identität für organisationale Kommunikation darzustellen. Anschließend werden Empfehlungen zur Erleichterung erfolgreicher Kommunikation durch Nutzung der sozialen Identität gegeben und auf die Relevanz der Kommunikation auf Augenhöhe und die Berücksichtigung des kollektiven Selbstkonzeptes in heutigen Führungsfragen eingegangen.
The creation of a social climate where all ethnic groups can harmoniously coexist is a central challenge for many countries today. Should we emphasize similarities and common ground or, conversely, recognize that there are important differences between groups? The current study examined relations between diversity ideologies (assimilation, colorblindness, multiculturalism, polyculturalism) and generalized and specific intergroup bias (against Chechens, Belarusians, Uzbeks, Chinese, and Jews and Muslims) among ethnic Russians (N = 701). In Study 1, colorblindness (ignoring differences) and polyculturalism (emphasizing interconnectivity) were associated with lower generalized intergroup bias and lower bias against Chechens, Uzbeks, and Chinese, but not Belarusians. Bias against Belarusians was lower among those who endorsed multiculturalism (emphasizing differences). In Study 2, multiculturalism was associated with higher implicit bias when the target was a Chechen but in general more proximal variables (positive or negative contact experience and perceived group similarity) were more robust predictors of intergroup bias than diversity ideologies. In Study 3, colorblindness and polyculturalism were related to lower levels of fearful attitudes against Muslims. Colorblindness was also associated with lower levels of Antisemitism in contrast to multiculturalism that had an opposite association. We place these results in the context of cultural distance and existing cultural stereotypes about different groups among the majority of Russians. The strengths and weaknesses of each diversity ideology for the mainstream cultural group are discussed. The results of the current study suggest that the most fruitful strategy for mainstream cultural groups for maintaining harmonious intergroup relations in diverse societies might be that of optimal distinctiveness.
Effective postgraduate research support and student success continues to be a challenge for many Higher Education Institutions (HEI). In this paper we introduce and outline the development of an original and innovative structured approach to doctoral research, developed within a northwest UK university business school. Viewing the commencement of doctoral research as a complex situation, we outline a well-defined concept which has its roots embedded in the engagement and scaffolding of new doctoral students at the commencement of their studies. Initial feedback is highly positive from participants and we draw conclusions on the merit of the approach and scope for its further development. Our ultimate aim is to provide a structured ‘roadmap’ for doctoral students, in order to support their development as a nascent researcher, but also to help ease the often personal significant disquiet experienced at the outset of the journey.
(Written in Georgian Language)
The presented book consists of nine chapters presented in three parts. The first part discusses the theoretical framework and all main concepts, constructs and approached I employ in my research. The second part discusses the ongoing process of life storytelling. It answers the following questions: how, when and why do we start telling our stories? And how do we manage to grow, develop, enhance and change ourselves and at the same time to maintain the sense of self-continuity. The third part of the book tells the story of ongoing transformations in the context of complex person-culture interaction. Hence, next chapters overview the master narrative theoretical framework recently proposed by McLean and Syed (2016). In particular, the criteria and types of master narrative as well as the concept of alternative master narrative and its variations are discussed. The last chapter brings us to the issue of interrelation of master and alternative narratives and generativity,. The epilogue sums up the book underlying the place and importance of studying life narratives in personality and identity studies.
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