Social Identity Complexity and Inclusiveness as Predictors of Intergroup Emotions

Abstract

As we belong to a host of groups, we have a multitude of social identities that are interdependent. Social identity complexity refers to the degree of overlap between cross-cutting group memberships while social identity inclusiveness to the range of people a person identifies with through shared group membership. In this paper, we explored the relationship between the complexity and inclusiveness of social identity, and feelings toward ethnic/religious in-groups, as well as feelings toward outgroup members. The research was conducted in two cities in Serbia: Belgrade and Novi Pazar (N = 178; average age 23), allowing for comparisons between young Serbs and Bosniaks, who belonged to the groups with a recent history of conflict. We found that social identity complexity was unrelated, whilst social identity inclusiveness was systematically and positively related to more positive feelings toward religious and ethnic out-groups. This effect was significant across different ethnic groups (Serbs and Bosniaks) and local contexts (Belgrade and Novi Pazar). Both social identity complexity and inclusiveness were unrelated to emotions toward members of the own group. We related these results with the existing data on the social identity structure and intergroup relations, and discussed the importance of inclusive identities for building tolerant societies.

Intergroup contact fosters more inclusive social identities

“…We adapted the task to answer new questions about social identification. First, we recruited respondents from multiple groups, allowing us to study both individual and group differences (see also Branković et al, 2015). Second, we estimated responses as varying across targets and participants using multilevel models.…”

Intergroup contact fosters more inclusive social identities

“…We adapted the task to answer new questions about social identification. First, we recruited respondents from multiple groups, allowing us to study both individual and group differences (see also Branković et al, 2016). Second, we estimated responses as varying across targets and participants using multilevel models.…”

Kompleksnost I Inkluzivnost Socijalnog Identiteta Kao Posrednici Uticaja Socijalne Norme Na Odnos Prema Nepripadničkim Grupama

“…Složeni identiteti su često i više inkluzivni, jer se u svaku pojedinačnu grupu kojoj osoba pripada uključuju druge osobe koje joj pripadaju, pa je zbir svih zasebnih identiteta više inkluzivan od svakog identiteta pojedinačno. Kompleksnost i inkluzivnost socijalnog identiteta predstavljaju dobre prediktore različitih mera odnosa prema drugoj nepripadničkoj grupi i sa različitih uporišta pružaju mogućnosti objašnjenja ovog odnosa ( Branković et al, 2015;Brewer, 2010;Brewer & Pierce, 2005;Schmid et al, 2009;van Dommelen et al, 2015). Povezanost između kompleksnosti socijalnog identiteta i odnosa prema drugim grupama je stabilna kroz različite grupe i socijalne kontekste istraživanja (Brewer et al, 2013;Roccas & Brewer, 2002;Schmid et al, 2009;Verkuyten & Martinović, 2012).…”

“…Kako su oba atributa socijalnog identiteta pretpostavljeni i dosad potvrđeni prediktori stava prema drugim grupama, pretpostavili smo da zajednička varijansa potiče delom od zajedničkog potencijala da predvide stav prema drugim grupama. Nasuprot kompleksnosti za koju smo utvrdili da nije korelat nijedne mere, inkluzivnost se javlja kao značajan prediktor stava, što je domaninantno potvrđeno i u drugim istraživanjima na području Srbije, u kompleksnijim socijalnim sredinama i sa drugim nepripadničkim grupama (Branković et al, 2015). Autori su ovakav nalaz tumačili time da je mera ikluzivnosti socijalnog identiteta manje intruzivna, manje podložna socijalno poželjnom odgovaranju i manje zavisna od objektivnih odnosa između grupa, od mere kompleksnosti socijalnog identiteta.…”