In‐group representation and social value affect the use of in‐group identification for maintaining and enhancing self‐evaluation

Abstract

Individuals with independent self-construals identify with their in-group in order to buffer threats to self-esteem to a greater degree than do those with interdependent self-construals. This study focused on the effect of the in-group's social value and representation on this identification process among individuals who reported various real-world threats to their self-esteem. We conducted a questionnaire survey for university students and we examined how self-construal, the in-group social value, and the in-group representation either moderate or mediate the relationship between threat to self-esteem and identification with their academic departments. The results of multiple-group analyses of structural equation modelling showed that independents who reported more threats to their self-esteem identified with the in-group when it was high in social value. In contrast, they did not exhibit in-group identification when it was low in social value. Interdependents showed less in-group identification regardless of the in-group's social value. The representation of the in-group as a common identity group mediated the relationship between threat to self-esteem and in-group identification for independents, whereas the representation of a common bond group played the same role for interdependents. These findings suggest the importance of considering the role of self-construal and the in-group social value, along with the representation of in-group, in understanding in-group identification in situations of threat to self-esteem.

Differential Responses of Independent and Interdependent People to Social Exclusion

“…After the explanation was provided, participants completed a Japanese version of the independent-interdependent self-construal scale (Takata, 2000), based on Markus and Kitayama (1991). This scale was used in previous studies (Nakashima et al, 2008(Nakashima et al, , 2012, and included 20 items that are each rated on a 7-point scale (1 = strongly disagree, 7 = strongly agree; independence, α = .77; interdependence, α = .82). Examples of independent items (10 items) are: "I often make decisions by myself" and "I recognize what I want to do."…”

“…In order to buffer an exclusion threat, independents seek to restore belonging needs through a heightened sense of group identity as a social symbol, through holding on to relationships with specific group members. In contrast, interdependents approach the task of restoring a sense of belonging by seeking to secure and value relationships within the larger number of groups in which these individuals are embedded (Chen & Boucher, 2008;Nakashima et al, 2008Nakashima et al, , 2012. Exclusion should motivate such individuals not to network within a particular group, but rather to shore up their interpersonal networks per se.…”

“…For them, it is important to reinforce the view of self as part of an interpersonal network, which is in turn related to life satisfaction and self-esteem (Cross, Bacon, & Morris, 2000;Markus & Kitayama, 1991;Triandis, 1989). In stressful situations, interdependents exhibit less identification with specific groups, given that they are driven to secure and value their broader interpersonal networks per se in order to buffer against stress (Heine & Hamamura, 2007;Nakashima et al, 2008Nakashima et al, , 2012. Importantly, these networks do include specific groups, although identification with highly specific groups is thought to prevent interdependents from receiving social support from a broad range of interpersonal networks, given that such identification can limit the person's access to other parts of the broader interpersonal network (e.g., Haslam et al, 2004;Turner et al, 1987).…”

“…Recent research has demonstrated that the independent-interdependent self-construal influences whether people are willing to identify with their reference group to buffer threats to their self-esteem elicited by task-relevant or interpersonal stress (Nakashima, Isobe, & Ura, 2008, 2012. People with an independent self-construal (i.e., independents) view themselves as being autonomous and relatively separate from others.…”

“…This occurs because such identification enables individuals to experience enhanced self-esteem via group-based self-evaluation (Hogg & Abrams 1990;Tajfel & Turner, 1979;Turner et al, 1987). When self-enhancement is needed in task-relevant or interpersonal stressful situations, independents turn to and identify with an in-group, which can offer a positive social identity as a form of self-enhancement (Nakashima et al, 2008(Nakashima et al, , 2012.…”