Shared identity can be an outcome of mutual aid, not only its cause

Evidence

Because of the unpredictability of most emergencies and disasters, few studies in the field employ a before-after design (a rare example is Wickes, Zahnow, Taylor, & Piquero’s, 2015, impressive panel study of the effects of flooding). Therefore, like the studies described here, most research on collective behaviour in emergencies and disasters is essentially correlational. In the model and in the studies described in this review, we have treated shared social identity as prior to behaviour. But equally theoretically plausible are causal relationships from observed behaviour to social identification; other people’s behaviour in the interests of the group can tell us that we share social category membership with them; and behaving supportively towards others in a group can tell us that we are part of that group (cf. Bokszczanin, 2012). The notion of identity as outcome as well as cause of action is consistent with our findings in the collective action domain (e.g., Drury & Reicher, 2000). — John Drury, The role of social identity processes…, 155

Categorization

• XREF: The bidirectional identity-behaviour claim is central to the reader’s mutual-aid framing: helping others creates ingroup identity, not merely expresses it. — connects to: Shared identity can emerge rapidly during, not before, an emergency. — John Drury, The role of social identity processes…, 61; Shared social identity both causes group behaviour and is caused by it.; Shared identity that enables crowd helping often emerges during an emergency rather than pre-existing. — John Drury, The role of social identity processes…, 79 (+2 more)
• SEED: An essay angle: solidarity formation is a feedback loop — prosocial behaviour generates the identity that then sustains further cooperation.

Broader Connections

• Shared social identity both causes group behaviour and is caused by it. #corroborates (0.90)
• Common ingroup identity is a consequence of contact, not just a catalyst #corroborates (0.82) — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 583
• Shared identity that enables crowd helping often emerges during an emergency rather than pre-existing. #exemplifies (0.80) — John Drury, The role of social identity processes…, 79
• Shared emergent identity from common fate explains collective support amid disasters #qualifies (0.75) — John Drury, The role of social identity processes…, 15