Framework Of Social Identity Theory Research Articles

Nepal’s Status‐Seeking Endeavors: Between Normative Convergence and Geopolitical Interests

Due to limited material and geopolitical factors, the agency of small states is limited in international politics. As such, these states may seek to mitigate such weaknesses through status-seeking, adopting peculiar foreign policy approaches or international commitments to signal to more powerful actors about specific political or normative affinities. In this article, the conceptual framework of social identity theory, specifically social mobility, is used to assess Nepal’s foreign policy choices. It is argued that Nepal pursues the identity management strategy of social mobility in the form of normative conformance with more powerful actors to reinforce its status in the international community but not necessarily to rise up in the hierarchy of states. Social mobility through normative conformance not only allows Nepal to elevate its status with higher-status groups like the EU, the UN, and US (which are the country’s primary development partners), but it also reinforces Nepal’s interest in maintaining (and if possible, expanding) its agency as a sovereign state which is constrained due to its geopolitical location in between much larger neighbors, India and China. Nepal’s normative convergence efforts are broadly categorized into two specific types of commitments: (a) multilateralism and (b) normative congruence with development partners. Both of these normative conformance approaches seek to emulate the values and practices of the higher-status group—the US, the UN, and the EU.

Corporate fraud and independent director's re‐appointment: Information hypothesis or favouritism hypothesis?

AbstractUsing the analytical framework of social identity theory, this paper explores how a special corporate governance arrangement in the Chinese capital market, i.e., independent directors' re‐appointment, affects corporate ethical behaviours. Using the bivariate probit model, we find that independent directors’ re‐appointment significantly increases corporate fraud propensity, indicating that the favouritism towards re‐appointed independent directors by firms generated from social identity plays a dominant role in the corporate governance outcome in a relationship‐based society. Our results remain consistent after using an exogenous shock to alleviate the endogenous problems. The policy implication of this paper is that the corporate arrangement of re‐appointed independent directors in the Chinese capital market may impair stakeholders’ benefit and weaken business ethics. Top‐level institutional design should be improved and consider thoroughly the effects of social identity on corporate governance outcomes.

Subversive Narratives and Status-Seeking: A Look at Russia's Outreach to the Developing World After the Ukraine War

The amplification of the Russo-Ukrainian War in 2022 marked a turning point in relations between Russia and the “Collective West.” Moscow was cut off from Europe and subjected to sanctions and diplomatic isolation. In response, Russia turned to new partners in the Global South (especially in Africa) and intensified its criticism of the Western-dominated liberal international order. It has also unleashed propaganda narratives that depict the existing world system as a hegemonic and oppressive arrangement aimed at preserving the privileged position of the West at the expense of the non-West. This paper contextualizes these developments using the popular Larson-Shevchenko framework of social identity theory. I argue that Russia not only challenges the existing order by invading countries, but seeks to undermine its normative foundations with weaponized narratives, while also cynically attempting to frame Russia's illegal actions in Ukraine as an anti-colonial response to Western hegemony.

Sailing through the international assignment: exploring the role of perceived credibility in expatriate adjustment and socialization process in the host country

PurposeThe extant literature on expatriate adjustment primarily highlights the role of host country nationals (HCNs) in supporting expatriates during international assignments. However, there is a dearth of research exploring the expatriates’ socialization process in establishing interpersonal relationships with HCNs. Additionally, the pivotal element of expatriates seeking credible HCN sources, fundamental for fostering these relationships for adjustment, remains largely unexamined in the context of expatriate literature. Thus, this study addresses these gaps by proposing a conceptual model to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the expatriate adjustment process.Design/methodology/approachThis conceptual paper draws upon the theoretical framework of social identity theory to elucidate how socialization processes initiated by the parent organization and the expatriate shape the expatriate’s perception of HCN credibility. This perception, in turn, serves as the foundation for building a robust support system, ultimately leading to expatriate adjustment.FindingsThe proposed model explores the nuanced dimensions of expatriate adjustment, emphasizing the complex dynamics between expatriates and host country nationals during individualized socialization. This model aims to assess the credibility of HCNs in the eyes of expatriates and understand the role of the institutionalized socialization process. Further, the model investigates the influence of perceived similarity traits in the examined relationship, shedding light on the interplay of these factors and their impact on the expatriate’s adjustment to the international assignment.Practical implicationsThe study’s findings offer practical insights for organizations looking to enhance their support systems for expatriates, emphasizing the importance of nurturing interpersonal relationships and the credibility of HCNs.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the expatriate literature by shedding light on the often-overlooked interpersonal relationship between expatriates and HCNs. Doing so opens new avenues for further research, offering a fresh perspective on the expatriate adjustment process.

Shared family identity and communicatively managing the adaptation of family gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic

This study examined how shared family identity and COVID-19 worry were associated with choices to adapt family gatherings during the pandemic. Participants (N = 314) reflected on a conversation with a family member outside their household regarding whether/how to hold a gathering. Results showed that higher COVID-19 worry predicted higher likelihood of making adaptations to gatherings by either taking COVID-19 precautions while gathering in person or calling off the in-person gathering. However, higher shared family identity was associated with lower likelihood of calling off the gathering and higher probabilities of gathering in person with or without precautions. When people felt a high sense of shared family identity with a family member who disagreed with them, the decisions regarding adapting the family gathering did not necessarily reflect their own levels of COVID-19 worry. In qualitative analyses of open-ended responses regarding family discussions about whether to gather, participants wished for family members to express more openness, respect and understanding, and behavioral intentions that aligned with their own views on COVID-19. How shared family identity affects choices about health interventions and the way family members prefer to communicatively manage disagreements are discussed in the framework of social identity theory and communication accommodation theory.

Children picturing suffering in dark tourism: the use of photo-elicitation method

ABSTRACT Dark tourism subject matter can be powerfully visual. This study adopts the photo-elicitation method to examine children’s perspectives of the exhibitions at the War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Thematic analysis of children’s photographic narratives reveals that children use their photographs to visualize, describe and interpret what and who caused the suffering. Applying the social identity theory framework, the findings suggest that children identify with their ingroup and differentiate themselves from the outgroup in their photographic narratives. In interpreting the experience of suffering, children de-individualize the suffering bodies, creating a singular Vietnamese experience of suffering and collective identity. The use of photo-elicitation with children is valuable for generating new insights into children’s interpretive and emotional experiences, which have important theoretical and methodological implications for future research in dark tourism.

Gender diversity and firm performances suffering from financial distress: evidence from Indonesia

PurposeThis paper aims to demonstrate gender diversity in the structure of corporate governance and test the effect of diversity on the firm performance suffering from financial distress.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is quantitative using a sample of 467 public firms in Indonesia. Data were analyzed into statistics descriptive and the hypothesis was tested using the test of logistic regression.FindingsThe preliminary results of the paper demonstrate the number of firms employing women and men in the structure of corporate governance of 13% on the commissioner board, 7% on the director board and 5% on the audit committee. Based on the test of effect, this paper further found that firms employing women and men (gender diversity) in the structure of the board of commissioners, tend to suffer from financial distress lower than firms only employing men (non-gender diversity).Research limitations/implicationsThis paper is not an effort to make the proportion of voices of women equal to men, however the representation of women at least exists in the structure of corporate governance as part of workforce diversity and inclusivity. In addition, this paper is considered not to use panel data with the purpose of avoiding repetitive data because of the use of a nominal scale in the logistic regression model.Practical implicationsThe finding of the paper is addressed to deliver insights into the current conversation on the issue of women's day with the theme of Each for Equal and to firms in positioning women in the structure of boardrooms.Originality/valueThis paper extends the limited scholarly work on the nexus between gender diversity and financial performance. The framework of social identity theory and the tenet of corporate governance are elaborated to disclose the finding that firm shareholders tend to benefit from gender diversity in the structure of the commissioner board.

Analysis of Mental Health Issue of Migrant Children in China Under Social Identity Theory

China has seen a steady rise in the number of migrant children in recent years. Aside from focusing on educational barriers, the migrant-related public issue has shifted its attention to mental health. Previous discoveries on the state of migrant children's mental health in China has revealed a perceivable deviant trend along with multiple contributing causes. However, there are few studies concentrated on elaborating a consecutive course of migrant children's mental development under a dedicated psychological framework. Therefore, this study unfolded the progressing mental health status of migrant children within the framework of social identity theory. By expounding the flow of social categorization, social identification, and social comparison, this study enunciates that migrant children are categorized as social-outcasts and frustrated-adaptors under the influence of institutions and culture. Then they are tended to be subject to marginalized identification by community social capital. At the same time, there are promising mediating factors contributed by family and school, which render them identification of sense of belonging. It is followed by an inevitable phase of social comparison, during which upward comparison strengthens the positive effect of social support and spontaneous inclusion. This study also provided implications on the aspect of government, family, and school level to exert joint efforts to accelerate migrant children's adaptability into urban contexts with a well-off mental status.

Understanding minority feeling among people without a migration background: evidence from five majority-minority European cities

ABSTRACT In many cities in Western Europe inhabitants without a migration background have become a local minority group among many others in so-called majority-minority neighbourhoods. These inhabitants remain the numerical and cultural majority in their respective countries as a whole. Being a (local) numerical minority does not automatically mean experiencing one’s position as that of a minority, a position related not only to the numerical representation of a group, but also to the group’s experience of (lower) status within society. Using a Social Identity Theory framework, I investigate the characteristics of people without a migration background that feel like a local minority while they remain a national majority. The results show only a minority of respondents who live in majority-minority neighbourhoods actually feel like a minority. Those who do tend to perceive a larger outgroup size in their surroundings, feel socially marginalised, and have a more exclusive understanding of national identity. Thus, people without a migration background who feel like a minority see the ingroup as a truer reflection of the national community and at the same time see the ingroup’s position as disadvantaged.

An ‘alternative’ imagination of national identity in Turkey: the blue Anatolianists’ perception of culture, civilization, and the west

ABSTRACT This article elaborates upon Blue Anatolianism as another form of supranationalism with which Turkish nationalism is linked. Having quite different arguments from other types of Anatolianisms and supranationalisms on culture and civilization, Blue Anatolianists ‘creatively’ include the West in their perception of Turkishness. This study investigates the Blueists’ claims regarding Western civilization – as the only civilization – and the Turkish nation – as the ‘real owner’ of this civilization – within the framework of Social Identity Theory (SIT). It explores Blueists’ perceptions of national identity through content analysis of selected works of Kabaağaçlı, Eyüboğlu and Erhat, the core trio of the movement.

Worship as Social Creativity: Social Identity and the Form of Psalm 79

The form of Ps. 79 is often assessed as disoriented and disorienting. This study examines how the disoriented form of Ps. 79 creatively bolsters communal identity in the face of affliction primarily on the basis of the psalmist’s contention that God remains faithful to the covenant community. When one assesses the form of the psalm through the framework of social identity theory, three social creativity strategies become apparent, which facilitate a positive reassessment of social identity following crisis, namely, (1) the psalmist redefines the valence of the community’s state of affliction as an attribute that should inspire God’s compassionate response, (2) the psalmist engages in downward social comparison by villainizing adversarial nations for their arrogance and iniquity, and (3) the psalmist embraces the community’s commitment to worship. Consequently, the psalm’s medium and message enable recovery from its life setting.

Anti-old and anti-youth attitudes among older adults: focusing on middle-aged and old age identity

ABSTRACT There is currently a lack of comprehensive scholarly information concerning the attitudes older people hold toward both older adults and the young. Using the social identity theory framework, this study investigated older identity issues including middle-aged identity and old age identity. We conducted an online survey of Japanese older participants (N = 301) and then implemented a Bayesian structural equation modeling to examine whether age and gender predicted middle-aged/old age identity in addition to whether middle-aged/old age identity predicted anti-old/anti-youth attitudes. Results showed the more strongly participants identified with being middle-aged the more positive their attitudes were toward old/young people, while they showed no significant relationship between old age identity and the attitudes. Regarding participant ages, the results found no significant relationship with middle-aged identity but a positive relationship with old age identity. These findings will contribute to psychological research aimed at reducing anti-old/anti-youth attitudes among older adults. 1 1 A part of this study was presented at the 85th Annual Convention of the Japanese Psychological Association.

Honest Broker or Status-Seeker: Russia’s Policy in Libya

ABSTRACT This paper examines Russia’s actions in Libya in the context of its pursuit of great power status. Drawing on a theoretical framework of Social Identity Theory, which had been developed and popularized in IR by the scholars Larson and Shevchenko, the article argues that Russia’s Libya policy consists of two strategies. First, it pursues social creativity through versatile diplomacy, which has positioned it as an invaluable mediator. Moreover, Russia relies also on social competition by supporting Libyan warlord Khalifa Haftar. While these strategies raised Russia’s profile, the ultimate success of status-seeking strategies depends on the recognition by the higher-status holders.

Development of a creativity orientation scale using EFA

In a pilot study, an exploratory factor analysis using a minimum rank factor extraction method and an oblique (Promin) rotation of 30 self-report items on a proposed Creativity Orientation Scale (COS) was conducted on a snowball sample (n = 237). The purpose was to gain more in-depth understanding of attitudes toward and perceptions of creativity and creative individuals within the framework of social identity theory. Using the optimal implementation of Parallel Analysis (PA) retention method, a three-factor solution provided the clearest extraction. Factor 1 (creative-averse orientation) accounted for 37.32% of the variance and had seven items. Factor 2 (creative-approach orientation) accounted for 18.76% of the variance and had eight items. Factor 3 accounted for 8.31% of the variance and had only two items and therefore was not considered salient. Following rotation, these three items accounted for 64.40% of the total variance.

A Case Analysis of How Cultural Identity Works in Intercultural Communication

The cultural identity issue has always been an interesting topic in intercultural communication. This paper describes and analyzes the business case of JH under the theoretical framework of Social Identity Theory, Cultural Iceberg Model, and Intercultural Competence Model through the approach of discourse analysis. As is demonstrated in the case of JH, intercultural challenges like cultural awareness, communication style, language barrier and decision-making difference are ineluctable. The paper presents the challenges or threats related to cultural identity in intercultural communication and it attempts to find possible ways to enhance intercultural competence as well as overcoming intercultural barriers in intercultural communication.

The FARC in Colombia: Collective Reintegration and Social Identity Transformation

The Peace Treaty between the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the Colombian government in 2016 was a breakthrough toward ending an armed conflict of more than six decades. One requirement for its success is the reintegration of former combatants of the FARC into society, which in this case has been designed as a collective reintegration process. We conducted a qualitative field study with 20 former combatants of the FARC to understand their perception of this reintegration process using the framework of social identity theory. We found a strong disparity between the desire of participants to adhere to their identity as FARC while coming to terms with its decreasing likelihood. Participants felt threatened in their identity as FARC due to the violence targeted at them, their stigmatization and rejection by society, the perceived noncompliance of the Colombian government, and the increasing disintegration of the FARC. We discuss how identification with the FARC leads to different avenues of reintegration and affects former combatants' relations with society and the Colombian government. Adding to a multidimensional analysis and implementation of peace building, we highlight the need for structured reintegration programs that consider the psychosocial needs of all parties involved.

Exploring the Type and Impact of Memorable Hate Messages and Identity Salience on Self-Esteem, Relational Outcomes, and Intergroup Biases

ABSTRACT Using a social identity theory framework, the present study offers a typology of memorable hate messages from 170 college-aged students. The memorable hate messages focused on racism, body, gender/sexism, homophobia, religion/anti-religious group, poverty/classism, ability, organizational-affiliation, and politicians/political ideologies. Additionally, the relationships between memorable hate messages, personal characteristics, relational outcomes, identity salience, and intergroup biases are explored. Future research and limitations are also discussed.

An Adaptive Network Model to Simulate Consensus Formation Driven by Social Identity Recognition

Models of the consensus of the individual state in social systems have been the subject of recent research studies in the physics literature. We investigate how network structures coevolve with the individual state under the framework of social identity theory. Also, we propose an adaptive network model to achieve state consensus or local structural adjustment of individuals by evaluating the homogeneity among them. Specifically, the similarity threshold significantly affects the evolution of the network with different initial conditions, and thus there emerges obvious community structure and polarization. More importantly, there exists a critical point of phase transition, at which the network may evolve into a significant community structure and state-consistent group.

The War from both Sides: how Dutch and German Visitors Experience an Exhibit of Second World War Stories

At the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, questions arise if contemporary audiences still find historical accounts relevant. Fundamental to understanding the relevance of stories from the war is assessing their emotional impact on leisure participants from various social groups. We used the social identity theory framework to assess differences in emotional reactions of Dutch and German visitors to stories of the Second World War presented at a Dutch museum exhibit. Emotional reactions were measured using physiological signals of heart rate and heart rate variability as well as self-report. Emotions experienced were mixed and often, but not always, different between Dutch and German participants. Patterns in the physiological and self-report data differed. Many of the significant differences were generally consistent with a collective guilt account of German social identity, but the findings as a whole were more complex than could be predicted by existing social identity accounts. Specifically, participants did not simply categorize themselves with either national or human identities of characters based on what their respective stories emphasized. We conclude that stories of the Second World War are still relevant, but touch on audiences’ nationalities in a complex way, beyond simple historical categories.

On the Boundaries: Professional Photojournalists Navigating Identity in an Age of Technological Democratization

ABSRACTIn the wake of fewer and fewer professionals populating photojournalism, this study utilizes in-depth interviews with 21 professional photojournalists to better understand how they construct their identity. With a framework of social identity theory, this research found photojournalists consider clear role conception, adherence to normative journalism ethics and organizational backing as key components of their in-group. They consider professionalism as service, a lack of professional processes, and advocacy key parts of the out-group. These results are then interpreted for their effects on professionalism.