Amending the Emotional Solidarity Theoretical Framework Through the Addition of Perceived Similarity, Empathy, and Narcissism

Abstract

ABSTRACT As tourism rebounds globally, a growing need persists to understand the complex social dynamics between residents and tourists and how these dynamics shape residents’ support for the industry. By employing an amended theory of emotional solidarity, this study examined factors affecting residents’ solidarity and how that translates to pro-tourism behaviour. Data were collected from 438 residents in Fiji and analyzed using covariance-based structural equation modelling. Of Woosnam’s original antecedents—shared beliefs and interaction—were positively related to the two dimensions of emotional solidarity (communality and fairness); whereas shared behaviour was only positively associated with communality. Two dimensions of empathy (affective and cognitive) were positively associated with both emotional solidarity dimensions. Narcissism was negatively related to communality. A positive association was found between narcissism and the fairness dimension of solidarity, despite hypothesizing a negative relationship. Finally, both the communality and fairness dimensions of solidarity significantly explained residents’ pro-tourism behavioural intentions.