Group identity itself can directly trigger emotional reactions

Evidence

A third approach, and the one on which we focus predominantly in this chapter, borrows the general assumptions of Social Identity Theory and assumes that emotions can be experienced by people on behalf of their ingroups – that is, that the “collective self ” defined by a group identification can trigger emotional reactions (Smith, 1993). From this perspective, emotions can be group-level as well as individual-level phenomena. The distinction between the group-based and individual emotion approaches is analogous to the distinction drawn by Runciman (1966) and others between “fraternal” (group-based) and individual or “egoistic” relative deprivation – the sense that one’s group in society or oneself as an individual has relatively poorer outcomes compared to other groups or individuals. From this group-based, perspective, emotion can arise because of group belonging, and thus emotions can be group-level as well as individual-level phenomena. — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 2261

Categorization

• DEFINE: Defines the fraternal vs. egoistic relative deprivation distinction and the collective-self concept — core conceptual tools for group emotion research.
• XREF: connects to: Shared spatial and temporal rhythms constitute group identity itself, not just its symbols — David Harvey, The Condition of Postmodernity: An…, 1341; Different threat types trigger distinct emotions that shape reactions — Blake M. Riek, Eric W. Mania, and Samuel L. Gaertner, Intergroup Threat and Outgroup…, 66