Identification and Perceived Vitality: The Dutch and the Germans in the European Union

Abstract

This study examines the vitality perceptions of the Dutch and the Germans in the context of the progressive European unification with special emphasis on the relationship between subjective vitality perceptions and group identification. The vitality perceptions were measured by a modified version of the Subjective Vitality Questionnaire (Bourhis et al., 1981) while indicators for the 'objective' vitality were obtained by analysing official statistics and surveys. Results indicate that despite a high correspondence of subjective vitality assessments and 'objective realities' an ingroup bias in the vitality perception emerged.On some subjective vitality items,the vitality assessments of individuals with a high national identification were higher in general, but no intensifying effect of national identification on the ingroup bias was found. Consensually, the Dutch and the Germans expected an increase of both groups' vitality within the next 15 to 20 years. This can be taken as an indicator of culture optimism which appears in spite of a simultaneously expected increase of the influence of the European Union. The results are discussed with reference to recent findings and developments in vitality theory as well as with regard to European unification.