Group-based emotions arise only when shared membership is salient

Evidence

Evidence also suggests that identification with, rather than mere cognitive categorization in, the group produces intergroup emotions. Shortly after the September, 2001, attacks on the US, Mackie, Silver, Maitner, and Smith (2002) measured students’ identification as “Americans” and asked about their emotions in reaction to a hypothetical future terrorist attack on their country. Group identification with “Americans” strongly predicted both fear and anger responses. — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 2267 (#complicates, via linked claim)

Working from Tajfel’s (1978) definition, Ellemers, Kortekaas, and Ouwerkerk (1999) identified three separate components of social identity: (1) a derivation of self-concept, in part, from the groups to which one belongs (social categorization), (2) an emotional attachment to one’s group (affective commitment), and (3) an evaluative component in which one favors one’s own group over others (group self-esteem). … Yet, these three components were identified as separate dimensions in a principal components analysis (PCA). They were also differentially affected by group characteristics such as size and status. Ultimately, only group commitment mediated the effects of group characteristics on in-group favoritism. — Roderick M. Kramer, Geoffrey J. Leonardelli, Robert W. Livingston, Social Cognition, Social Identity, and…, 1748 (#complicates, via linked claim)

Of the social categorization and affective commitment dimensions, affective commitment appeared to be the stronger mediator of the relationship between follower perceptions of transformational leadership and satisfaction and OCB. Similarly, Ellemers et al. reported that affective commitment was the only mediator of the relationship between group structure and follower in-group favoritism. It appears that social categorization has some effects on follower perceptions, yet those effects are reduced when affective commitment was added. — Roderick M. Kramer, Geoffrey J. Leonardelli, Robert W. Livingston, Social Cognition, Social Identity, and…, 1857 (#complicates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Emotion overturns individuated structures only through communal resonance. — Yves Citton, The Ecology of Attention, 273; Group embedment replaces individual decision making with a shared We that spreads emotion — Leonard S. Newman and Ralph Erber (eds.), Understanding Genocide: The Social…, 136; Emotions can be felt on behalf of one’s ingroup, not only as individuals (+10 more)

Broader Connections

• Emotional identification with a group, not mere membership, drives group-based fear and anger #complicates (0.88) — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 2267
• Only emotional attachment to one’s group, not categorization or self-esteem, drives in-group favoritism #complicates (0.76) — Roderick M. Kramer, Geoffrey J. Leonardelli, Robert W. Livingston, Social Cognition, Social Identity, and…, 1748
• Affective group attachment outweighs mere categorization as a causal mediator. #complicates (0.76) — Roderick M. Kramer, Geoffrey J. Leonardelli, Robert W. Livingston, Social Cognition, Social Identity, and…, 1857