200 research outputs found
Політичні настрої українського селянства в умовах колективізації сільського господарства (історіографічний огляд)
In social groups, individuals are often confronted with evaluations of their behaviour by other group members and are motivated to adapt their own behaviour accordingly. In two studies we examine emotional responses towards, and perceived coping abilities with, morality vs. competence evaluations individuals receive from other in-group members. In Study 1, we show that evaluations of one's immoral behaviour primarily induce guilt, whereas evaluations of incompetent behaviour raise anger. In Study 2, we elaborate on the psychological process associated with these emotional responses, and demonstrate that evaluations of immorality, compared to incompetence, diminish group members' perceived coping abilities, which in turn intensifies feelings of guilt. However, when anticipating an opportunity to restore one's self-image as a moral group member, perceived coping abilities are increased and the experience of guilt is alleviated. Together these studies demonstrate how group members can overcome their moral misery when restoring their self-image
Turning social identity threat into challenge: status stability and cardiovascular reactivity during inter-group competition
"The current research examined the occurrence of threat and challenge in low and high status groups resulting from the stability of inter-group status differences during an inter-group competition. It was hypothesized that members of low status groups are relatively threatened when status differences are stable, but that this threat turns into a challenge when status differences become unstable. By contrast, unstable status relations were predicted to lead to threat in members of high status groups. Participants (N = 40) were categorized in minimal groups. Inter-group status differences, and the stability of these differences, were manipulated by providing feedback on three group tasks. During these tasks cardiovascular threat and challenge responses were measured following the biopsychosocial model [BPS; Blascovich, J., & Tomaka, J. (1996). The biopsychosocial model of arousal regulation. In M. Zanna (Ed.), Advances in experimental social psychology (Vol. 28, pp. 1–51). New York: Academic Press]. Results were in line with expectations and are discussed in terms of the BPS model and social identity theory." [author's abstract
Leftists and rightists differ in their cardiovascular responses to changing public opinion on migration
People may feel stressed when engaging with contentious topics, such as migration. However, when individuals learn that their opinion-based ingroup is growing or shrinking, they may experience this stress in different ways, namely as a threat or a challenge. In a preregistered study (N = 203 Dutch university students), we examined among host society members how progressive and conservative changes (vs. stability) in public opinion on migration interacted with their political ideology to influence cardiovascular reactivity indicative of challenge and threat. Electrocardiography, impedance cardiography, and blood pressure were continuously measured during a one- to three-minute speech task in which participants reflected on the future of interethnic relations in the Netherlands. Additional self-reported outcomes, including demand and resource appraisals and prejudice towards migrants, were assessed after the speech task. As predicted, progressive change (vs. stability) in public opinion led leftists to exhibit a cardiovascular pattern indicative of relative challenge (relatively lower total peripheral resistance and higher cardiac output) and rightists to display a cardiovascular pattern indicative of relative threat (relatively higher total peripheral resistance and lower cardiac output). Additional analyses suggest that progressive change (vs. stability) increased leftists' resource appraisal regarding the speech and reduced their prejudice towards migrants, while both progressive and conservative changes (vs. stability) increased rightists' prejudice. These findings highlight that a growing opinion-based ingroup size can function as a resource for coping with the stress of forming and expressing one's opinion on a sensitive societal issue
The network dynamics of antiprejudice norms:A field experiment testing antiprejudice interventions in real groups
Individuals' attitudes toward members of ethnic and national outgroups can be shaped by peer norms within social networks. However, little is known about the interplay between such spontaneous normative influence processes within social networks and more formalized top-down norms communicated by institutions (e.g., schools). To test this impact, we conducted a longitudinal four-wave field experiment employing social network analysis among real groups. Students enrolled in Dutch and international psychology bachelor programs at a Dutch university were assigned to mentoring groups (N = 288 across 50 groups in the last wave). As institutional interventions, they watched an online diversity training video (vs. not, between mentoring groups) at the beginning of data collection (T1) and attended a diversity and inclusion session (within-participants) before T2. At each timepoint, participants reported attitudes toward outgroup members and friendships with students enrolled in the same program. We examined how peer norms (i.e., friends' intergroup attitudes) and institutional interventions shaped intergroup attitudes, finding that the video- and workshop-based interventions improved intergroup attitudes. However, network analyses showed limited influence of friends' intergroup attitudes on individuals' own attitudes as well as limited interactive effects of the institutional interventions and network dynamics in affecting intergroup attitudes
On the physiology of flow: Bridging flow theory with the biopsychosocial model of challenge and threat
We examined the relation between psychological flow and cardiovascular markers of challenge. According to flow theory and the biopsychosocial model of challenge and threat (BPS-CT) optimal motivational states (flow, challenge) arise during activities where task demands meet personal resources. Participants (N = 154) played Tetris in either an underload, fit, or overload condition. Cardiovascular responses were measured during the task and a flow state scale was completed afterwards. Unexpectedly, it was in the underload condition where cardiovascular responses developed in the direction of challenge. Moreover, it was under this condition where relative challenge related positively to both task performance and self-reported flow. Similar results were found for cardiovascular markers of task engagement. In line with the BPS-CT, when only selecting clearly task-engaged participants a tendency towards challenge was found in the fit condition. We discuss why flow and challenge might have co-occurred in the underload condition, as well as the further theoretical and methodological implications of the study. We conclude that at least under some circumstances flow and challenge relate to each other but that future research should examine this relation further
Towards Evidence-Based Legitimacy Interventions in EU Law: Challenges and Directions for Empirical Research
As EU institutions are increasingly being asked to address societal challenges, the legitimacy need of the EU becomes more evident. With the aim of complementing the already rich literature on normative EU legitimacy and ultimately enabling evidence-based legitimation strategies, this contribution identifies and addresses gaps in empirical research on perceived EU legitimacy, which pertain to conceptualization, operationalization and explanatory factors. To that end, we first of all define perceived EU legitimacy as the perception among EU citizens that the EU’s exercise of authority is appropriate. Drawing on the relational approach to legitimacy, these perceptions arise from socially held norms about how the EU should rightfully exercise authority, which are in turn influenced by the socio-political context. We then propose ways in which such a conception of legitimacy can be operationalized in empirical research. Finally, we lay the foundation for a theoretical model on the sources of EU legitimacy perceptions, arguing that such a model should consider social psychological processes related to identity and morality, because these factors influence how people process information about the EU, and are increasingly part of the environment in which norms about rightful rule arise. Once empirical research is better equipped to understand these processes underlying citizens’ legitimacy perceptions of the EU, opportunities arise to develop evidence-based interventions and inform legal practices in the EU with extra-legal insights. As EU legitimation through policies, legal reform and institutional design requires knowledge of legal feasibility, social scientists and lawyers should collaborate to embed empirical insights in EU law. Bridging the norm-fact divide in this manner is both normatively desirable and empirically necessary for the EU to strengthen its legitimacy and face societal challenges
Towards evidence-based legitimacy interventions in EU law: Challenges and directions for empirical research
As EU institutions are increasingly being asked to address societal challenges, the legitimacy need of the EU becomes more evident. With the aim of complementing the already rich literature on normative EU legitimacy and ultimately enabling evidence-based legitimation strategies, this contribution identifies and addresses gaps in empirical research on perceived EU legitimacy, which pertain to conceptualization, operationalization and explanatory factors. To that end, we first of all define perceived EU legitimacy as the perception among EU citizens that the EU’s exercise of authority is appropriate. Drawing on the relational approach to legitimacy, these perceptions arise from socially held norms about how the EU should rightfully exercise authority, which are in turn influenced by the socio-political context. We then propose ways in which such a conception of legitimacy can be operationalized in empirical research. Finally, we lay the foundation for a theoretical model on the sources of EU legitimacy perceptions, arguing that such a model should consider social psychological processes related to identity and morality, because these factors influence how people process information about the EU, and are increasingly part of the environment in which norms about rightful rule arise. Once empirical research is better equipped to understand these processes underlying citizens’ legitimacy perceptions of the EU, opportunities arise to develop evidence-based interventions and inform legal practices in the EU with extra-legal insights. As EU legitimation through policies, legal reform and institutional design requires knowledge of legal feasibility, social scientists and lawyers should collaborate to embed empirical insights in EU law. Bridging the norm-fact divide in this manner is both normatively desirable and empirically necessary for the EU to strengthen its legitimacy and face societal challenges
The Integration of Subgroups at the Supranational Level: The Relation Between Social Identity, National Threat, and Perceived Legitimacy of the EU
Previous research suggests that social identity influences public attitudes about the European Union, but little is known about the role of social identity for perceived legitimacy of the EU. This article explores the relation between different forms of identification (national, EU, dual) and EU legitimacy perceptions, and the moderation of this relationship by experienced threat to national power and sociocultural identity. A survey was conducted in six countries (N = 1136). A factor analysis of legitimacy items resulted in two subscales (institutional trust and duty to obey). Separate regression analyses were therefore run on these subscales. All forms of identification were positively related to perceived EU legitimacy, while threat was a strong and universal negative predictor. However, the results suggest that national identification only positively predicted legitimacy when participants experienced no threat to their nation by the EU, while dual identification positively predicted legitimacy even when participants experienced threat. Overall, respect for national identities and their values may offer opportunities to safeguard and improve the perceived legitimacy of the EU. Findings are discussed in terms of the literature on the ingroup projection model and the common ingroup model
It’s a man’s world; right? How women’s opinions about gender inequality affect physiological responses in men
In two experiments, we examined how men respond to women who either challenge or legitimize societal gender inequality, and how gender identification moderates these responses. We hypothesized that men feel less threatened by women who legitimize (vs. challenge) the gender hierarchy, and evaluate these women more positively. To investigate these expectations, we assessed self-reports (Studies 1 and 2) and cardiovascular threat/challenge responses (Study 2). Both studies showed that men experience less negative emotions when presented with a woman who legitimized (vs. challenged) the gender hierarchy. Moreover, among men with a relatively high gender identification, a woman who challenged the gender hierarchy elicited a physiological response pattern indicative of threat, whereas a woman who legitimized the gender hierarchy elicited a pattern indicative of challenge. Results are discussed in terms of social identity theory, status threat, and self-distancing behavior
Threatened by the immoral, challenged by the incompetent: Cardiovascular responses to intragroup morality vs. competence evaluations
In group contexts, moral judgments are used as social influence tactics to regulate the behavior of group members. We argue that communicating moral disapproval with the aim of adapting group members’ behavior might backfire because it elicits (negative) threat rather than (positive) challenge. In two experiments, we examined the motivational consequences of negative morality (vs. competence) evaluations in group contexts. Participants worked on a group task while cardiovascular indices of challenge and threat motivational states were measured following the biopsychosocial model (Blascovich & Tomaka, 1996). In Experiment 1, participants recalled their own prior behavior evaluated as immoral or incompetent; in Experiment 2, participants were exposed to an ingroup member’s prior behavior evaluated as immoral or incompetent. As predicted, in both experiments, reminders of immorality induced a state of threat rather than challenge in a novel group context. These results suggest that moral disapproval intended to motivate group members to adapt their behavior might actually be counterproductive
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