Cognitive Centrality Research Articles

Job satisfaction and social identification among paramedics in southern Poland.

Job satisfaction, based on professional and non-professional factors and individual characteristics of employees, is an important element influencing both the quality of care provided and employee turnover. The study included 137 paramedics employed in field teams and hospital emergency departments. The Job Satisfaction Scale (SSP), the Minnesota Job Satisfaction Questionnaire (MSQ), the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES), and the Three Dimensional Strength of Group Identification Scale (TSIG) were used to collect the data. The average job satisfaction score measured with SSP in the studied group of paramedics was 24.50 and the average job satisfaction score measured with MSQ was 74.16. The average value of the group identification in the study sample was 61.15. Of the three subscales, the highest scores were obtained in the affect toward the group subscale -22.44, and the lowest in the cognitive centrality subscale -18.78. The analysis showed that job satisfaction positively correlated with social identification (r = 0.43) and the ingroup ties (r = 0.43), cognitive centrality (r = 0.34) and ingroup affect (r = 0.37). The studied group of paramedics showed moderate job satisfaction (measured with SSP) and work engagement, with a simultaneous high level of job satisfaction (measured with MSQ) and social identification with the professional group. Social identification of studied paramedics varied depending on gender. Women showed higher levels of cognitive centrality, which might mean that they might have had greater need to categorize themselves as paramedics.

Executive Cognitive Structure, Digital Policy, and Firms’ Digital Transformation

Executives play a key role in the digital transformation of enterprises. However, currently, few studies explore the impact of the executive cognitive structure on the digital transformation of enterprises. In this article, we reveal the relationships of the executive cognitive structure with the digital transformation of enterprises and the situational boundary from the perspectives of cognitive centrality and complexity. Relying on cognitive and institutional theory, we argue that both executive cognitive complexity and centrality facilitate corporate digital transformation. In addition, we also believe that the strong institutional pressure caused by digital policies has enhanced the roles of executive cognitive centrality and cognitive complexity in promoting the digital transformation of enterprises. Considering China's A-share automotive industry listed companies from 2014 to 2019 as the research object, we have obtained strong empirical evidence for our views. This article is the first to analyze the factors driving firms' digital transformation from the perspective of executive cognition.

Fostering team dynamics in university sport science student: a low-constraint social identity intervention

Traditionally, improving group dynamic has relied on cohesion and team building (TB) interventions. However, the time-intensive nature of TB interventions poses challenges for their implementation and effectiveness. Acknowledging the significance of the Social Identity Approach (SIA) in shaping group dynamic, this study aims to propose an enlightened TB intervention tailored for task-oriented groups. A total of 741 sports science students (Mage = 19.65; SD = 1.43; female = 187) participated in a 45-minutes intervention, based on an experimental scenario involving inter-group competition, forming 19 teams with stakes for the winners and losers. The identity group underwent a three-step intervention, including defining team boundaries, discussing team desirability and values, and creating a visual team identity symbol. The control group received a theoretical course on social identity theories. Results demonstrated a significant improvement in group belonging, ingroup ties, and cognitive centrality compared to the control group. The findings support the interest of a social identity approach for teams with demanding schedules to initiate preliminary work targeting optimal Group dynamic.

Social Identity and Adherence Behavior in Older Adult Group-Based Exercise

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to prospectively examine the relationship between social identity and exercise adherence among older adults. Eighty group-based older adult exercise class attendees (M age = 68.00) completed a baseline questionnaire assessing the three dimensions of social identification (ingroup ties, cognitive centrality, ingroup affect) with their exercise class, and recorded their exercise class attendance using a logbook over a four-month period. Results highlighted in-group affect as a significant predictor of exercise class adherence, meaning older adults who reported positive feelings and emotions associated with their exercise class membership were also more likely to attend class across time.

Encouraging Togetherness During a National Lockdown: The Influence of Relationship-Oriented Personal-Disclosure Mutual-Sharing on Team Functioning in Academy Soccer Coaches

The present study examined the influence of an online relationship-oriented personal-disclosure mutual-sharing (ROPDMS) intervention upon diverse measures of group functioning during a national lockdown. Twelve soccer coaches and one senior member of staff from a professional female soccer academy participated by openly disclosing and sharing unknown personal stories with one another. Social identity dimensions (in-group ties, cognitive centrality, and in-group affect), friendship identity content, social support, self-esteem, and a nonequivalent dependent variable were measured across four time points, while social validation was obtained immediately and 4 weeks after ROPDMS. Quantitative data revealed significant increases for in-group ties, cognitive centrality, and friendship identity content after ROPDMS, while the nonequivalent dependent variable did not significantly change. Qualitative data revealed that the coaching staff felt the session was worthwhile and enhanced aspects of team functioning. Online ROPDMS therefore appears to be a viable team-building method for practitioners seeking to strengthen social identity dimensions and friendship identity content during a national lockdown.

The centrality of cognition and coping styles in driving aggressive responses

ObjectiveDespite the presence of theoretical frameworks explaining aggression, they still require refinement in the form of a specification of mechanisms that facilitate such behaviour. MethodStudy 1 recruited participants (N = 31) from the general population (N = 20) and from a forensic hospital (N = 11). It was expected that aggression supportive cognitions and stress would be positively associated with aggressive behaviour. An experimental paradigm was used to induce stress and participants were subsequently given the opportunity to aggress. Study 2 was based on self-report questionnaires in community sample (N = 462). It was expected that aggressive behaviour and traits would be associated with experienced stress, hostile attributions, coping styles, and attitudes to violence. Specifically, that criminal attitudes to violence will mediate the effect of hostile attribution on aggression, while coping styles will mediate the effect of perceived stress. ResultsAn Implicit Theory “I am the law” was found to be associated with aggression. Furthermore, elevated skin conductance, but not changes in the heart rate, during the stress task was positively associated with aggression, and only among patients. Structural Equation Model confirmed the mediating role of criminal attitudes to violence and of maladaptive coping style for aggressive behaviour. ConclusionAggression-supportive cognitions and maladaptive coping style are specific mechanisms through which external demands or subjective perception of a situation can result in aggressive behaviour.

Part of the Team: The Social Identity Questionnaire for Sport Parents (SIQS-P)

ABSTRACT Drawing from theory of the multidimensional nature of social identity, the purpose of this study was to assess an adapted measure of social identity in sport that captures the extent to which parents identify with their child’s team. Using the Social Identity Questionnaire for Sport (SIQS) with items specifically modified for parents, we assessed competitive youth sport parents’ perceptions of ingroup ties, cognitive centrality, and ingroup affect. Using an exploratory and confirmatory analysis process, a conceptually grounded three-factor structure was supported in a sample of 788 ice hockey parents. Measurement invariance testing found strong invariance for the measurement tool based on participants’ biological sex, previous sport experience, and proximal competition outcome. Finally, differences emerged when comparing latent means across their child’s most recent game outcome. Taken together, this study offers a novel tool to better understand and measure perceptions of social identity among sport parents.

"Beyond the Rink": A Multilevel Analysis of Social Identity Behaviors Captured Using the Electronically Activated Recorder.

This study used ecological sampling methods to examine associations between youth athletes' experiences receiving and engaging in behaviors indicative of in-group ties, cognitive centrality, and in-group affect (i.e.,social identity) during a 3-day competitive ice hockey tournament. Forty-five youth (Mage = 12.39years; SDage = 1.14years; 94% male) from nine teams wore an electronically activated recorder that captured brief (50-s) audio observations throughout the tournament. Participants also completed daily diary questionnaires for each day of competition. Multilevel structural equation modeling demonstrated that athletes were more likely to engage in behaviors indicative of in-group affect and cognitive centrality on days when they received as higher-than-average frequency of behaviors indicative of cognitive centrality from teammates, coaches, and parents. The findings suggest that when team members interact in ways that demonstrate they are thinking about their team, they influence fellow members to behave in ways that promote a sense of "us."

The crisis of COVID-19 and opportunities for reimagining education

Our argument in this brief contribution is that COVID-19 has brought the experience of education to a crisis with respect to its practices and the theories that inform it. The practice crisis is about the glaring inequalities in peoples' access to education. The theory crisis is about how we learn. Our contention is that our dominant cohort learning approaches fail to address the many differences children bring to the learning task. In response we make two key moves: the first is to restore the centrality of cognition in all processes of teaching and learning, and the second is to situate cognition in its full biopsychosocial complexity. With respect to the first move we begin our discussion of teaching and learning with a focus on cognition and particularly on its executive function component. We provide the explanation of what it is, and with that, we move to our second to show the importance of new learnings about epigenetics that explain the significance of the relationship between the biological and the social to the cognitive process.

Identity leadership and social identification within sport teams over a season: A social network analysis

ObjectivesThis study explored the relationships between identity leadership and social identification in sport teams over the course of a season using social network analysis. MethodsParticipants from 23 competitive sport teams (N = 388, Mage = 20.7 years) indicated the extent to which each of their teammates displayed various forms of identity leadership (i.e., identity prototypicality, identity advancement, identity entrepreneurship, identity impresarioship) and the extent to which these same teammates were seen to identify with the team (assessed by ingroup ties, cognitive centrality, ingroup affect) early and later in a season. Quadratic assignment procedure correlations and multiple quadratic assignment procedure regressions examined the relationships between the different types of networks for each team across time. ResultsAthletes who perceived team members to show greater identity leadership perceived those same teammates to identify more strongly with the team both early (rsaverage > .46) and later (rsaverage > 0.48) in the season. Averaged across teams, identity entrepreneurship early in the season was most strongly associated with both perceived ingroup ties (βaverage = .24) and ingroup affect (βaverage = 0.13) later in the season, while identity impresarioship was most strongly associated with cognitive centrality (βaverage = .16). In the reversed direction, perceptions of ingroup ties early in the season were most strongly associated with all identity leadership dimensions later in the season (.28 < βaverage < 0.38). ConclusionsCollectively, these findings provide evidence of a mutually reinforcing bidirectional link such that teammates who are seen as actively contributing to promote a sense of ‘us’ among team members are also more likely to be seen as identifying strongly with the team.

Dimensions of social identification with the team as predictors of the coach-created training climate in rugby: A group-actor partner interdependence modelling perspective

Recently, social identity approach has been giving stimulating insights in leadership in sport, considering social identification as a consequence regarding leadership processes. Nonetheless, social identity theory fundamentally posits social identification as a subjacent parameter of cognitions implied in the frame of interpersonal and intergroup relations. The current study aimed to enrich the existing literature by investigating athletes’ team identification as a predictor of the perception of coach-created climate. French male rugby union players (N = 248) completed an online survey measuring the multidimensionality of their social identification to the team, and their perception of the coach-created climate in terms of empowering and disempowering motivational climate. Using Group Actor-Partner Interdependence Modelling, the analyses revealed that the perception of the climate as empowering was driven by high scores on ingroup ties, especially when teammates’ ingroup ties scores were low. Team’s ingroup affect and cognitive centrality resulted in lower perception levels of the empowering climate. Neither player's ingroup ties nor cognitive centrality predicted the perception of the climate as empowering, and when player’s ingroup affect fitted into the group, his perception of a disempowering motivational climate decreased when ingroup affect score was high. The results are mainly discussed to the light of intergroup permeability by underlying the importance of considering social identification as a predictor of the perception of coach-athletes’ relationship. Some practical applications are put forward along with future directions for research on coach-athletes’ relationship. Especially, this study points out the importance of considering the social identity approach of leadership as a transactional relationship encapsulated in a mutual influence between the ingroup member social identification and that of the team as a whole.

Exploratory Analysis of the Relationship between Social Identification and Testosterone Reactivity to Vicarious Combat.

Testosterone (T) fluctuates in response to competitive social interactions, with the direction of change typically depending on factors such as contest outcome. Watching a competition may be sufficient to activate T among fans and others who are invested in the outcome. This study explores the change in T associated with vicarious experiences of competition among combat sport athletes viewing a teammate win or lose and assesses how individual differences in social identification with one's team relates to these patterns of T reactivity. Twenty-six male combat athletes completed a social identity questionnaire on a neutral day. Later, salivary samples (assayed for T) were obtained before and after athletes viewed a video of a teammate engaged in a formal contest. T reactivity to viewing a teammate compete varied among participants in both the magnitude and direction of change, independent of contest outcome. Individual differences in cognitive centrality, a core feature of social identification, showed a strong positive relationship with T reactivity, particularly if their teammate won. Initial findings suggest that dominance-linked androgen responses associated with watching a teammate win a competition might depend on the belief that team membership is central to one's own identity. These exploratory results in a small sample of combat athletes should be interpreted with caution. Uncovering the role of social group dynamics in influencing T responses to competition is particularly important in light of the evolutionary history of coalitional combat in humans.

Psychopathy, criminal social identity, and criminal network among murderers, attempted murderers, recidivists and first-time incarcerated juveniles from Pakistan

Background: The purpose of the current study was to examine the differences in primary and secondary psychopathy scores, criminal social identity dimensions (cognitive centrality, in-group affect, and in-group ties), and criminal network between four groups of juvenile offenders: murderers, attempted murderers, recidivistic nonhomicidal offenders, and firsttime nonhomicidal offenders. Participants and procedure: Self-reported data were collected among 725 male youth offenders (Mage = 16.47 years) incarcerated in four prisons in Pakistan. Results: The results revealed no significant differences in scores between the four groups of youth offenders on any of the measured variables. Conclusions: It appears that psychosocial selfreported measures may not be effective in discriminating among youth prison populations.

Coaches’ Perceptions of Social Identity in Youth Sport: When Youth Athletes Think and Behave as “Us”

This study sought to examine coaches’ perceptions of social identity among their athletes and explore the ways that they may attempt to influence its development. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 12 head coaches (Mage = 49.25 years; SD = 6.5 years; Mexperience = 15.75 years; SD = 7.66 years; nfemale = 1) of male (n = 8) and female (n = 4) competitive youth ice hockey teams. Three main themes were identified through our analysis. First, the coaches’ perceptions of athletes’ social identities were described through examples of peer connection and similarity (i.e., in-group ties), athletes’ experience of positive affect (i.e., in-group affect), and athletes demonstrating the meaning and value that they attribute to team membership (i.e., cognitive centrality). Second, the coaches discussed a variety of ways that they sought to develop and reinforce a shared social identity within their teams. These behaviors aligned with principles advanced within the social identity leadership literature—namely, the coaches acted as in-group prototypes, in-group champions, entrepreneurs of identity, and embedders of identity. Finally, the coaches identified parents and cliques as key social agents with the ability to undermine social identity development. The findings are discussed in relation to both their theoretical and practical implications.

Social Identification with the Medical Profession in the Transition from Student to Practitioner

Phenomenon: This study explores professional identity formation during a final year of medical school designed to ease the transition from student to practitioner. Although still part of the undergraduate curriculum, this “transitional year” gives trainees more clinical responsibilities than in earlier rotations. Trainees are no longer regarded as regular clerks but work in a unique position as “semi-physicians,” performing similar tasks as a junior resident during extended rotations. Approach: We analyzed transcripts from interviews with 21 transitional-year medical trainees at University Medical Center Utrecht about workplace experiences that affect the development of professional identity. We used Social Identity Approach as a lens for analysis. This is a theoretical approach from social psychology that explores how group memberships constitute an important component of individual self-concepts in a process called ‘social identification.’ The transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis, with a focus on how three dimensions of social identification with the professional group emerge in the context of a transitional year: cognitive centrality (the prominence of the group for self-definition), in-group affect (positivity of feelings associated with group membership) and in-group ties (perception of fit and ties with group members). Findings: Students were very aware of being a practitioner versus a student in the position of semi-physician and performing tasks successfully (i.e., cognitive centrality). Students experienced more continuity in patient care in transitional-year rotations than in previous clerkships and felt increased clinical responsibility. As a semi-physician they felt they could make a significant contribution to patient care. Students experienced a sense of pride and purpose when being more central to their patients’ care (i.e., in-group affect). Finally, in extended rotations, the trainees became integrated into daily social routines with colleagues, and they had close contact with their supervisors who could confirm their fit with the group, giving them a sense of belonging (i.e., in-group ties). Insights: Using the three-dimension model of social identification revealed how students come to identify with the social group of practitioners in the context of a transitional year with extended rotations, increased clinical responsibilities, and being in the position of a “semi-physician.” These findings shed light on the identity transition from student to practitioner within such a curricular structure.

Investigating the Integrated Psychosocial Model of Criminal Social Identity (IPM-CSI) within a sample of community based youth offenders

ABSTRACT The current study aimed to explore the correlates of CSI in a single study, using the recently validated MDSI (Measure of Delinquent Social Identity). Path analysis was conducted among a sample of opportunistically selected youth offenders (N = 536; age range from 12 to 17 years), separately for boys (n = 348; M age = 15.28 years) and girls (n = 188; M age = 15.23 years). Findings showed a positive significant relationship between interpersonal manipulation and in-group affect (β = .08) for boys, and a positive significant relationship between interpersonal manipulation and in-group ties (β = .21) for girls. Among boys, the findings revealed a negative significant relationship between self-esteem and cognitive centrality (β = −.13). For girls only, a negative significant relationship was identified between living with parents and associating with criminal friends (β = −.20). Limitations and advantages, including practical implications, of the current research are discussed, highlighting directions for future research.

Relation of inmates’ entitlement to identification with criminal groups, narcissism and readiness for self-improvement

BackgroundInmates often show narcissistic and entitlement attitudes, as expressed in their numerous unjustified com-plaints and lawsuits concerning the conditions of imprisonment. The aim of the study was to examine the rela-tionship between entitlement, criminal social identity, narcissism and readiness for self-improvement in a group of inmates. The study also attempted to create a psychological profile of prisoners with different levels of entitlement.Participants and procedureThe study included 87 prisoners (M = 32.10, SD = 8.49) aged 20-57 years. The Measure of Criminal Social Identity, Readiness for Self-Improvement Questionnaire, Entitlement Questionnaire, and Narcissistic Admira-tion and Rivalry Questionnaire were used in the study.ResultsThe results of the analyses indicate that entitlement in the study group is high. Active entitlement is positively associated with readiness to improve oneself, readiness to take care of one’s health and admiration. Passive entitlement is negatively associated with cognitive centrality, in-group affect, and narcissism, and negatively associated with readiness to improve oneself and readiness to take care of one’s health. Revenge entitlement is positively associated with criminal social identity, narcissism and rivalry. Inmates with a high and low level of entitlement are differentiated by psychological and demographic variables.ConclusionsWhen searching for factors determining the entitlement in a group of inmates, their personality and demo-graphic variables should be taken into account.

Validation of the Measure of Delinquent Social Identity Among Youth Offenders in the UK

ABSTRACTThe current study aimed to develop and validate the Measure of Delinquent Social Identity (MDSI). Dimensionality and construct validity of the MDSI was investigated in a sample of youth offenders (N = 536). Four alternative models of the MDSI were estimated using Mplus. The model identified as being the best fit for the data was a bifactor model with three dimensions (cognitive centrality, in-group affect, in-group ties) while controlling for the general factor. The three subscales differentially correlated with criminal friend index, self-esteem, parental attachment, and peer rejection. Limitations and advantages, including practical implications, of the current research are discussed.

Evaluating the psychometric properties of the Social Identity Questionnaire for Sport (SIQS)

ObjectivesThe strength with which individuals identify with a sport team (i.e., social identity) has important implications for athletes' cognitions, affect, and behavior. Yet there remains ambiguity surrounding the optimal way to conceptualize and thus assess social identity. The purpose of the current study was to examine the psychometric properties of a nine-item version of the Social Identity Questionnaire for Sport (SIQS). DesignAthletes completed a self-report measure of social identity related to sport team involvement. MethodIn a sample of 869 youth and young adult athletes (Mage = 14.84, SD = 3.79; male = 375; female = 493), we evaluated the psychometric properties of a nine-item version of the Social Identity Questionnaire for Sport (SIQS) by using bifactor analysis and subsequently testing single-factor and three-factor structures. ResultsOverall, a theoretically conceived three-factor structure is empirically supported, where ingroup ties, cognitive centrality, and ingroup affect are represented as distinct dimensions of social identity. Empirical support was also found for a global factor of social identity, but only when the residuals among the subscales were correlated. There was support for strong measurement invariance across sexes for the unidimensional and three-factor structure models. DiscussionThe findings from the study support the SIQS as a psychometrically sound measure of social identity in sport that can be used to either model social identity along three specific dimensions or as a global construct.

Disentangling the Relations between Social Identity and Prosocial and Antisocial Behavior in Competitive Youth Sport.

The social identities formed through membership on extracurricular activity groups may contribute to the frequency with which youth engage in prosocial and antisocial behavior. However, researchers have yet to disentangle the individual- and group-level processes social identification effects operate through; sex and perceived norms may also moderate such effects. Thus, we investigated the hierarchical and conditional relations between three dimensions of social identity (i.e., ingroup ties, cognitive centrality, ingroup affect) and prosocial and antisocial behavior in youth ice hockey players (N = 376; 33% female). Multilevel analyses demonstrated antisocial teammate and opponent behavior were predicted by cognitive centrality at the team level. Further, prosocial teammate behavior was predicted by cognitive centrality and ingroup ties at the individual-level. Also, perceived norms for prosocial teammate behavior moderated the relations between ingroup ties, cognitive centrality, and ingroup affect and prosocial teammate behaviour. Finally, sex moderated the relations between cognitive centrality/ingroup affect and antisocial opponent behavior. This work demonstrates the multilevel and conditional nature of how social identity dimensions relate to youth prosocial and antisocial behavior.