Abstract
The study set out to integrate collective action models and emphasize the role of emotions. Whereas the importance of anger is indisputable, relatively little attention has been paid to the role of positive emotions, such as hope, in collective action research. Hence, the aim of the study was to explore the role of hope and anger as drivers of participation and involvement in collective mobilizations. A cross-sectional field study (N = 638) conducted right after the emergence of the 15-M socio-political protest movement in Spain assessed the emotions and beliefs of both demonstrators and those who took no part in the active mobilization. We hypothesized that anger and hope would sequentially mediate the relationship between collective action frames and participation in collective action. Furthermore, to test this premise, we ran two alternative sequential mediation models based on the social identity model of collective action (SIMCA) and the encapsulated model of social identity in collective action (EMSICA), but with emotions as mediators between collective action frames and intensity of participation. Both models fit the data well, suggesting the importance of considering multiple causal pathways, and showing that anger and hope sequentially mediate the relation between these frames and involvement in collective action. The results support the crucial role of hope in mobilizing individuals to take part in collective action.
Highlights
The study set out to integrate collective action models and emphasize the role of emotions
In this paper, building on the theoretical set up offered by theories of collective action and social identity, we propose a sequential mediation model that places hope at the core of the mechanism promoting participation and involvement in collective mobilizations
This study found that positive emotions, such as hope, pride and optimism, acted as important mediator variables and explained the relationship between anger and intention to participate in a protest action
Summary
The study set out to integrate collective action models and emphasize the role of emotions. We hypothesized that anger and hope would sequentially mediate the relationship between collective action frames and participation in collective action To test this premise, we ran two alternative sequential mediation models based on the social identity model of collective action (SIMCA) and the encapsulated model of social identity in collective action (EMSICA), but with emotions as mediators between collective action frames and intensity of participation. Both models fit the data well, suggesting the importance of considering multiple causal pathways, and showing that anger and hope sequentially mediate the relation between these frames and involvement in collective action. Many recent authors have pointed out the importance of considering positive emotions when explaining group dynamics (e.g. Mackie, Devos, & Smith, 2000; Smith & Mackie, 2008; Thomas, McGarty, & Mavor, 2009b), the majority of studies on collective action fail to sufficiently account for their crucial role in encouraging engagement in political protest
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