Self-categorization Theory Research Articles

CEO Adverse Professional Experience, Emotions, and Stakeholder (Dis)Engagement

Recent studies have shown that managers who undergo adverse professional experiences become more conservative in their financial policies. In this paper, we study how CEOs’ adverse professional experiences influence their decision-making on stakeholder management. We build on self-categorization theory and argue that CEOs’ previous employment experiences of financial distress induce them to avoid repeating similar situations and to adopt resource-conservation strategies that may consequentially hurt the interests of certain stakeholders such as the community and general public. We also argue that this effect is moderated by two factors that can influence CEOs’ self-categorization processes—firm financial performance and CEO positive emotion. Based on a sample of U.S. publicly listed firms over the 2003 to 2016 period, we find that adverse professional experience is negatively associated with corporate social responsibility and positively associated with tax avoidance. Further, these relationships are mitigated by better corporate financial performance and CEOs with higher positive emotion. Our study contributes to our understanding of stakeholder management strategies.

From Deep-Level Similarity to Subordinate Moqi: The Mediating Role of Leader-Member Exchange.

Fostering subordinate moqi is a significant method to improve the cooperating quality and promote positive outcomes. However, little is known about the influencing factors and mechanisms of subordinate moqi. To address this issue and explore the influencing factors of subordinate moqi, we draw on self-categorization theory to develop a mediation model to examine whether and how deep-level similarity affects subordinate moqi, casting the leader-member exchange (LMX) as a mediator. A two-wave online survey was conducted and 316 data was collected. A Structure Equation Modeling analysis was used to test all hypotheses with Mplus 7. Results showed that the deep-level similarity could positively predict subordinate moqi and LMX, respectively. Additionally, LMX was a significant predictor of subordinate moqi as well as it mediated the positive relationships between deep-level similarity and subordinate moqi. These findings expand our understanding of the antecedents of subordinate moqi. It is suggested that developing subordinates’ deep-level similarity with supervisors and LMX relationships are instrumental in cultivating subordinate moqi which promote positive outcomes. Organizations should integrate effective management programs into managerial strategies to enhance deep-level similarity and LMX, in turn, fosters subordinate moqi.

Citizenship Attitudes and Social Inequality Among Moroccan University Students

ABSTRACT Drawing on social identity approach, comprising of social identity theory and self-categorisation theory, this article compares the ways in which public and private university students in Morocco approach the controversial relationship between citizenship and identity. By revealing students’ self-identification and the role socio-economic factors have in this process, we seek to gain knowledge about the extent to which citizenship is perceived as a legal status as opposed to membership in a political community and how the transformation inherent in global market capitalism and the distribution of resources affect the youth’s behaviours and attitudes towards social action. The sample represented the public and private dichotomy divide through 150 participants from four differently located Moroccan universities, namely Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, Mohammed V University, Al-Akhawayn University and International University of Rabat. Data were collected by means of a self-administered questionnaire and a semi-structured interview and were analysed using a mixed method approach to triangulate findings and ensure trustworthiness.

Experiencing human identity at dark tourism sites of natural disasters

Identifying with all humanity is a desirable quality, especially during times of climate change and pandemics. An exploration of human identity remains an under-researched area in tourism studies. This study explores the salience of human identity among visitors in a dark tourism context. Built on self-categorisation theory, this research contributes to the dark tourism literature by highlighting the significance of human identity in the dark tourism context and investigating what underpins the salience of human identity. Data were collected from 196 visitors in situ, across four dark tourism sites of natural disasters, using semi-structured interviews. Although the sites are geographically and culturally different, the study reveals that post natural disaster settings can heighten human identity. The prominence of human identity is underpinned by external stimuli and an understanding of human identity attributes. The results offer valuable and timely insights into the planning and interpretation of post natural disaster sites.

Attractive females versus trustworthy males: Explore gender effects in social media influencer marketing in Saudi restaurants

Social media influencer marketing is gaining importance in the restaurant industry, especially for independent restaurants. This study explores the underlying mechanism of social media influencer marketing in the context of independent restaurants in Arab and Islamic culture. The study combines the uncertainty reduction theory with the self-categorization theory to propose a research framework. Data were collected with Saudis. The results show that prototype clarity, self-prototypicality, and trust positively affect an influencer’s social attraction. Both trust and social attraction positively impact followers’ intentions to visit a restaurant recommended by an influencer. However, self-disclosure negatively influences the perceived trust of female influencers. The multi-group comparison results indicate that the trustworthiness of a male influencer and the social attraction of a female influencer lead to higher restaurant visit intentions. The findings provide independent restaurant owners in Arab and Islamic culture with meaningful insight into selecting appropriate influencers.

Athlete Identity and Mental Health Among NCAA Division III Student-Athletes

Student-athletes often identify with the athlete role and demonstrate high levels of athlete identity. High athlete identity leads to many unintended consequences such as low career maturity and difficulty adapting to a life beyond sport. Additionally, high athlete identity often leads to mental health concerns among the student-athlete population. Informed by self-categorization theory (Turner, 1982), the purpose of this study was to explore athlete identity and mental health among NCAA Division III student-athletes. The Athlete Identity Measurement Scale (AIMS) and The Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 were completed by 332 NCAA Division III student-athletes. The results demonstrated that Division III student-athletes did not identify highly with the athletic role and did not show concerning levels of anxiety, depression, and/or stress. Further, no relationship between athlete identity and mental health was found. This study strives to provide a keen insight into the athlete identity and mental health of Division III student-athletes in hopes of better understanding this population.

Mitigating IT Professionals’ Turnover in Non-IT Organizations: An Organizational Identification Perspective

The turnover of IT professionals is a perpetual challenge for non-IT organizations. Based on self-categorization theory, this study proposes that IT employees’ turnover may be mitigated by fostering their identification with non-IT organizations, which can be done by meeting various facilitative conditions. Guided by intergroup contact theory, we identify IT employees’ perceived alignment between IT and the core business of an organization (business-IT alignment), the extent of boundary-spanning activities that IT employees engage in, and the closeness of the relationships between IT and non-IT employees as the drivers of their organizational identification. Using survey data collected from organizations in different industries, we obtained empirical evidence supporting the positive effects of the perceived business-IT alignment, the extent of boundary-spanning activities, and the relationship closeness between IT and non-IT employees on IT employees’ organizational identification. Additionally, there was a three-way interaction effect among the three drivers such that the relationship closeness between IT and non-IT employees reduced the positive effect of the extent of boundary-spanning activities on IT employees’ organizational identification when business-IT alignment was low. However, this negative moderating effect diminished when business-IT alignment increased. The findings of this research advance the literature and offer practical guidelines for non-IT organizations on how to enhance their IT employees’ organizational identification and how to mitigate their turnover intentions.

Feeling included and excluded in organizations: The role of human and social capital

We rely on social identity and self-categorization theories to investigate how human capital and social capital may be associated with a sense of inclusion and exclusion. We conducted a qualitative study in a professional academic association, since these organizations exist to serve both the profession and the professionals they represent and should therefore foster an inclusive environment for their members. Respondents provided information about their experiences of inclusion and exclusion in the association. Our results suggest a complex interplay between human capital and social capital leading to experiences of inclusion and exclusion. Inclusion was most frequently associated with social capital and involvement in association activities, whereas exclusion was attributed to (a lack of) both human capital and social capital. Further, we found evidence that members may experience both inclusion and exclusion, and that these experiences could be associated with their identification with multiple sub-communities within the Association.

An opinion dynamics model of meta-contrast with continuous social influence forces

Opinion dynamics is the study of how opinions in a group of individuals change over time and opinion dynamics models attempt to mathematically formulate this process. This research lays the foundations for, and develops the meta-contrast influence field model, a novel opinion dynamics model based on self-categorization theory. It improves on the existing meta-contrast model by providing a properly scaled, continuous influence basis while replicating key results of the original model. This influence basis is modular in nature, allowing future research to include other competing psychological forces in the mathematical formulation of influence. This flexibility is achieved while drastically reducing computational complexity, making feasible larger models of more psychologically complex agents.

Design and analysis of testing results of a WeChat applet for sexual health and HIV infection risk assessment in young students

Objective: To summarize the design and analysis of testing results of a WeChat applet, which is called "Detective Bear", for sexual health and HIV infection risk assessment in young students, and evaluate its feasibility and effectiveness. Methods: Based on self-categorization theory, by using cluster analysis and Delphi expert consulting method, the framework of WeChat applet, risk assessment index system and preventive intervention content were determined. Young students were recruited by student associations for the application test, the results of the repeated tests and the satisfaction survey were collected and analyzed. Results: The study included 393 participants who repeated the test twice and 750 participants who volunteered to participate in the satisfaction questionnaire survey. The applet contains five modules: self-role judgment, self-test, risk assessment, assessment report generation and background management. The risk assessment module contains 6 first-level indicators and 55 second-level indicators. Assessment report generation module includes role diagnosis type, radar chart of HIV sexual health KAP and intervention prescription. In 393 students who repeated the test, the awareness of AIDS to be a serious sexually transmitted disease, the epidemic trend in young students in China, with active seeking HIV testing services and caring the infected improved. The satisfaction survey showed that 75.7% of students (568/750) accepted the applet, 86.5% (649/750) agreed the evaluation report, 83.1%(623/750) thought that there were some problems, but it was easy to use, 93.3% (700/750) said they can learn something from the applet and 84.1% (631/750) satisfied with the page design. Some students thought the questionnaire was too long and somewhat difficult to complete (P<0.05), and some reported that more can be learned (P<0.05). Conclusions: The applet integrates AIDS prevention related knowledge and practice into a challenging, interesting, interactive game and provide individualized, concrete risk assessment and self-intervention for young students, which can effectively help students to improve the awareness of AIDS related knowledge and get links for access to condoms, testing and other intervention services. However, its large-scale application and long-term effect need to be further tested.

To promote AIDS preventive health education in schools

In recent years, the annual number of newly reported HIV/AIDS cases in young students remained to be 3 000 approximately, which has arisen a serious social concern. This paper focuses on the analysis on the epidemic characteristics of AIDS in young students in China and the weak points in preventive health education, and puts forward some thoughts on promoting the preventive health education in schools and introduces a WeChat applet for sexual health and HIV infection risk assessment in young students, which is called "Detective Bear" and developed based on self-categorization theory in Guangzhou to help young students to be aware of their own risks and specific problems and provide individualized intervention for the better implementation of AIDS prevention health education in schools in China in the new era.

Effects of Leader-Follower Extraversion Congruence and Sectoral Difference on Leader-Member Exchange: A Cross-Sectional Study

PurposeDrawing upon self-categorization theory and the comparative literature on public and private sectors, the purpose of this study is to examine whether leader-follower extraversion congruence is positively related to leader-member exchange (LMX) and whether congruence at high levels of extraversion results in higher LMX than congruence at low levels. Furthermore, the study aims to investigate the moderating role of sectoral difference in the relationship between extraversion fit and LMX.MethodsParticipants were 320 leader-follower dyads (53 leaders and 320 followers) from various public and private sectors in the Chinese cultural context. The extraversion part of the Revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI-R) and leader-member exchange multidimensional measure (LMX-MDM) were used to measure extraversion and LMX, respectively. Hypotheses were tested using cross-level moderated polynomial regression and response surface analysis.ResultsLeader-follower extraversion congruence was not significantly associated with LMX, and there was no significant difference in LMX between congruence at high levels of extraversion and congruence at low levels. However, sectoral difference moderated the relationship between extraversion fit and LMX. Specifically, in the public sector, leader-follower extraversion congruence was positively related to LMX, and LMX was higher when leader and follower extraversion were both at a high level compared to when they were at a low level. In the private sector, this fit effect vanished.Practical ImplicationsThe results suggest that, in the public sector, when organizations deal with the deployment of staff, taking leader-follower extraversion fit into account may mitigate possible later relationship conflicts. However, in the private sector, by not emphasizing extraversion fit, organizations can focus resources on more crucial factors.Originality/ValueBy considering sectoral difference as the boundary condition of leader-follower extraversion fit, this study extends the comparative literature on public and private sectors and supports self-categorization theory.

At the core of cyberaggression: A group-based explanation.

In this study, prototypicality of the aggressor was tested as a group‐level factor predicting social media users’ active participation in cyberaggression. Participants were exposed to a fictitious conversation, in which either a prototypical versus non‐prototypical user posted an aggressive comment as a reply to a provocative comment. In line with self‐categorization theory, we hypothesized that bystander participants would post an aggressive comment and rate the aggression as acceptable to a greater extent in the prototypical than in the non‐prototypical condition. Furthermore, we predicted that perceived normativity of aggression would mediate the effect of prototypicality. Results supported these predictions and showed that prototypical members affect the extent to which collective aggressive behaviors in online interactions are approved and enacted. These findings highlight the importance of group‐level factors in the study of cyberaggression and provide important information for understanding the psychological underpinnings of collective forms of online aggression.

Following the best of us to help them: Group member prototypicality and collective action

While considering the role of group-level factors as predictors of collective action, research has overlooked the role of group prototypes in determining willingness to engage in collective action. To begin to investigate this area, we conducted two correlational studies ( Ns = 141 and 98) in high schools examining the association between prototypical ingroup members’ desire to engage in collective action and participants’ collective action on behalf of a disadvantaged group (immigrants). Results showed a positive association between these two variables. We also investigated boundaries of this effect, finding that the association emerged when participants lacked personal experiences with the disadvantaged group (cross-group friendships; Study 1) or identified more with their ingroup, an effect also found when including a behavioral measure of collective action (Study 2). Intentions to follow the prototypical ingroup member emerged as the mediator (Study 2). It is worth noting that our methodology allowed us to assess prototypicality in a naturalistic context by calculating a metacontrast ratio for each group member, in line with self-categorization theory’s conceptualization of prototypicality. We discuss the theoretical and practical implications, with reference to the role of prototypicality as a means of social influence and to developing social norms in the context of collective action.

A case for change in how we refer to dual career athletes: a person first approach

ABSTRACT Rationale/Purpose Dual Career Athletes (DCA) combine education, training, or work with a sporting career within broader sports management and educational environments. A holistic approach embraces the DCA as a “person first, athlete second”. This study examines the literature regarding DCA stereotype, labelling, identity, and wellbeing, and proposes a change in how we refer to DCAs, to person(s) engaging in dual career (PEDC). Design/methodology/approach Using social identity theory (SIT) and self-categorisation theory (SCT) we discuss the use of person-first language regarding PEDCs. Three key areas are considered; PEDC stereotype; PEDC identity development and PEDC wellbeing within their sporting and educational environments. Findings PEDCs can adopt unidimensional athletic identities and experience stereotype with potentially negative implications for DC. PEDCs face challenges impacting wellbeing, exacerbated by narrow identity development and stereotype with low tendencies for help seeking. Labels can act as cues in stereotype and identity formation and wellbeing promotion. Practical Implications It is proposed that the term PEDC should be adopted by researchers, those involved in sports management structures, academic personnel within educational institutions, parents and peers. Research contribution : The study supports the holistic, person first approach to DC and proposes a change in how we refer to people engaging in DC.

Effects of cultural intelligence on multicultural team effectiveness: The chain mediation role of common ingroup identity and communication quality

In a globalizing world, intercultural competence has become increasingly important for university graduates. Using a sample of 177 students participating in study abroad programs organized by a Swiss university and a Chinese university, we investigate antecedents and mediators to multicultural team (MCT) effectiveness. Based on social identity and self-categorization theories, our findings show that cultural intelligence is positively related to common ingroup identity and MCT effectiveness, and common ingroup identity is positively related to communication and MCT effectiveness. Specifically, common ingroup identity and communication quality play a significant full-chain mediating role in the relationship between cultural intelligence and MCT effectiveness. From an international education perspective, these results provide knowledge of strategies and actions necessary to ensure MCT effectiveness in intercultural collaboration. The latter is relevant for international business collaborations with employees, customers, and external stakeholders.

Group Identity and Ingroup Bias: The Social Identity Approach

This article discusses the social identity approach (social identity theory and self-categorization theory) for understanding children’s ingroup biases in attitudes and behaviors. It is argued that developmental research on ingroup bias will be enhanced by more fully considering the implications of this approach. These implications include (a) the conceptualization of group identity, (b) the importance of social reality and children’s epistemic motivation, (c) the role of processes of normative influence and social projection, and (d) the relevance of moral considerations. These four implications have not been fully considered in the developmental literature but indicate that the social identity approach offers the possibility for theoretically integrating and empirically examining various processes involved in children’s ingroup biases.

How qualitative approaches matter in climate and ocean change research: Uncovering contradictions about climate concern

There is growing acknowledgement of the need for both quantitative and qualitative methods to unravel complex human-environment interactions and inform a more advanced move towards global sustainability. Nonetheless, qualitative methods still play an understated role in climate and ocean change research. One important reason for this are continuing tendencies in the natural sciences to value ‘hard’ and value-free quantitative approaches over ‘soft’ and value-laden qualitative approaches. This paper argues that to overcome such methodological reservations, it is necessary to inform not only about the key characteristics of qualitative research but also – and this has received little attention – about the concrete empirical insights that can be gained from qualitative as opposed to quantitative data, despite sharing the same research focus.The environmental literature still lacks relevant examples from fieldwork that explain in detail how exactly decisive information is elicited from specific qualitative datasets, thereby illustrating how qualitative approaches matter. This paper seeks to help fill this gap by demonstrating to sceptical quantitative researchers the necessity and added value of integrating qualitative data in global environmental change research and highlighting impeding factors. This is done by presenting empirical findings about climate and ocean change adaptation in Norwegian coastal fisheries and elucidating how different qualitative interview techniques reveal that fishers who initially state that they do not worry about climate change actually do worry, and vice versa. Self-categorisation theory from social psychology is used to better explain such contradictory statements. Detecting salient but masked climate concern and understanding the reasons behind it are crucial for avoiding misleading conclusions and effectively tailoring adaptation strategies to the requirements of specific audiences.

Consequences of the Accident of Birth: A Multi-level Examination of Employee Caste Status

Today’s multicultural workforce demands organizations to navigate through a wide range of cultural values, many of which are yet to be explored by diversity research. Employees such as those from India are both custodians of and are burdened by a unique social hierarchical system called caste. Given that the caste system affects over 1 billion people worldwide, and many more by association, we endeavor to mainstream this under covered yet potent facet of employee diversity. Drawing upon social identity and self-categorization theories, we propose a process and context model linking employee caste status to work performance. Specifically, we assert that employee caste is a key social identity such that higher status caste confers a more central position in workgroup influence network, and the accrued resources translate into enhanced job performance and citizenship behaviors. We further assert that owing to self-categorization the contextual factors of leader caste status and workgroup team orientation shape the effects of employee caste status. Multi-level modeling using time-lagged, three-source data from 352 employees, 321 peers, and 31 managers showed support for our hypotheses. Our research reveals the mechanism underlying perpetuation of caste based advantages in the workplace and suggests directions for future research.

Replacing Leadership by Vision with the Leadership of Vision: the As-Yet-Impossible Prototype

While much of the leadership literature describes how leaders use vision as a tool to influence people, what if it is actually the leaders who should be used to facilitate the leadership of vision? Paralleling the distinction between “rule by law” and “the rule of law,” I develop a theory of identity-based leadership that emphasizes how visions are superordinate to leaders and organizations. This paper discusses these processes by examining self-categorization theory in the context of the distant future. By being grounded in the distant future, a vision provides a discontinuity and contrast with current realities. This redefinition of vision allows for conceptual consistency of the envisioned group’s as-yet-impossible prototype despite changes in contexts, leaders and collectives. As members identify with the envisioned group, their actions reconfigure current reality to enable the vision’s alternative reality. This paper discusses how the reframing of vision addresses organizational phenomena at multiple levels of analysis and in contexts including vision communication, leader-follower relationships, leader succession, and organizational change. In concluding I also briefly explore how the leadership of vision highlights the imminent dangers of divisive yet inextinguishable visions.