Social Identity Theory Research Articles

Impact of Migration On National Security: A Case Study of Border Control Policies in Japan

Purpose: The aim of the study was to analyze the impact of migration on national security: a case study of border control policies. Methodology: This study adopted a desk methodology. A desk study research design is commonly known as secondary data collection. This is basically collecting data from existing resources preferably because of its low cost advantage as compared to a field research. Our current study looked into already published studies and reports as the data was easily accessed through online journals and libraries. Findings: Japan's strict border control policies effectively limit irregular migration and unauthorized entry, enhancing national security. However, concerns arise regarding potential human rights violations, particularly for asylum seekers and refugees. Balancing security with humanitarian considerations is crucial for protecting migrants' rights. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Securitization theory, rational choice theory & social identity theory may be used to anchor future studies on analyze the impact of migration on national security: a case study of border control policies. Implement more transparent and accountable aid allocation mechanisms that prioritize long-term investments in governance reform, economic development, and social inclusion to address the root causes of instability in recipient countries. Advocate for the adoption of coherent and principled aid allocation policies that balance economic interests with the promotion of democratic governance and human rights protections in recipient countries.

A STUDY ON THE IMPACT OF ORGANIZATIONAL INNOVATION CLIMATE AND PROFESSIONAL IDENTITY ON EMPLOYEE INNOVATIVE BEHAVIOR IN THE LIVE STREAMING E-COMMERCE INDUSTRY

With the rapid development of the digital economy, live streaming e-commerce has become a new format and trend in e-commerce. However, the live streaming e-commerce industry is becoming more homogeneous, and companies urgently need to enhance their competitiveness through employee innovation. This article aims to explore the factors that influence the innovative behavior of employees in live-streaming e-commerce companies and provide a theoretical basis and practical guidance for companies to implement innovation-driven development strategies. Based on social identity theory and motivation theory, this study constructed a research model on "the impact of live broadcast e-commerce organizational innovation atmosphere and professional identity on employee innovative behavior". Sample data were collected through questionnaires, and statistical analysis methods were used to test the research hypotheses. The research found that: 1) organizational innovation climate positively affects employee innovative behavior, and work motivation plays a partial mediating role between the two; 2) professional identity positively affects employee innovative behavior, and organizational identification plays a partial mediating role between the two; and 3) employees with different personal characteristics have significant differences in their innovative behaviors.

Embracing Enablement: Impairment, Community and Disability Identity in Young Adult Fiction

Many authors in recent years have worked to encourage the inclusion of disabled people and to show disability characters in a positive light. In order to accomplish this, they tend to produce counter-disability characters and scenarios to promote enablement. This textual analysis focuses on three young adult fictions that provide positive portrayals of protagonists with disability, including Out of My Mind (Draper, 2010), Five Flavors of Dumb (John, 2010) and Jerk, California (Friesen, 2008). Drawing on the social identity theory and the social model, this paper explores how the protagonists' disability identities are formed. Three themes emerged from the textual analysis: impairment and identity, which looked at the complex interactions between impairment and identity; community transformation, which analyzed factors causing both socially constructed disability and positive interaction; and positive disability identity, which examined how protagonists navigate challenges and form positive identity. This study may offer recommendations for educators, parents, and researchers who might utilize this study to advance and build an inclusive society.

Contribution of Social Media in Shaping Self-Perceptions: A Case of Black Women

Purpose: This study aimed to explore how social media representations of Black women’s hair shapes their sense of identity, self-concept and hair care practices. Methodology: A qualitative cross-sectional approach was employed, with a sample size of five Black women in South Africa between the ages of 20 to 29 years old. Semi-structured interviews were conducted online with research participants that were purposively selected from social media platforms Twitter and Instagram. The use of these platforms to select participants also offered convenience to the researcher as these participants were readily available because they are already active in social media. Thematic analysis was used in data analysis while the Social Identity Theory (SIT) was utilised as the theoretical framework to interpret the findings. Findings: Four themes were used to cluster the findings, namely self-categorization, social identification, perceived positive social identity and self-esteem restoration. The findings highlighted the role of social media in perpetuating the stereotypes which is traced to the slavery; and then highlight how the social media is used to reverse the systematic oppression of the Black women based on their hair. They also revealed that positive representations of Black hair on social media creates an attitude of self-acceptance and empowerment among Black women. Similarly, social media provides a space for Black women to connect, discuss their hair and share hair care tips, fostering a sense of belonging within the community. However, this study identified a gap in representation, as there tends to be an overrepresentation of one specific hair texture, leaving some Black women with limited or no representation, mainly those wearing dreadlocks. Unique Contribution to the theory, practice, and policy: The research makes a unique contribution by highlighting the importance of diverse representation in South African advertisements and social media marketing for hair products, as Black women’s hair textures and journeys are not a monolith. The findings concomitantly highlight the role of social media celebrities and/or social media influencers in the social media regarding the matter under investigation from the perspective of South African women. The study also noted the need for awareness and education about the cultural and historical significance of Black hair to reduce cultural appropriation. The findings further highlight the human rights element regarding the discrimination faced by Black women due to their hair texture, this knowledge may contribute to creating inclusivity in both society and social media spaces.

Pursuing Dreams, Confronting Paradoxes: Palestinian Students in Israeli Institutions

Through an immersive qualitative exploration, we delve into the narratives of East Jerusalem’s Palestinian students as they navigate the complexities of an Israeli teacher training college. Workshops and artistic expression unearth their aspirations, challenges, and coping strategies within a labyrinthine educational landscape. Our findings illuminate their indomitable spirit and unwavering pursuit of dreams despite isolation, discrimination, and the ever-present Israeli–Palestinian conflict. This study contributes to understanding minority students’ experiences in higher education, particularly those in conflict-ridden regions. Drawing upon Resilience Theory, Social Identity Theory, Critical Race Theory, and Cross-Cultural Psychology, we weave a multi-dimensional framework elucidating factors shaping academic achievements, identity formation, and psychological well-being. The fruits of this research empower educators and policymakers to nurture resilience and inclusivity among diverse student populations navigating tempestuous waters. Amplifying Palestinian students’ voices, our work stands as a clarion call for equity and social justice in education, even amidst adversity. We underscore the paramount importance of tailored support systems and interventions, illuminating education’s transformative potential as a catalyst for positive change within communities gripped by conflict.

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.

Revising sense of community to understand typical and extremist virtual communities

Virtual communities are online groups organized around a shared interest within which members exchange information and socio-emotional support. Some virtual communities are positive (e.g., cancer support groups) or at least neutral (e.g., cooking groups). Others, like extremist virtual communities, focus on spreading misinformation and supporting violence. Theory and research have not adequately addressed the creation, maintenance, and face-to-face consequences of pro-social, neutral, or extremist virtual communities. One reason is because the research relies on a definition and model of sense of community for which empirical validation is deficient. Following examples in the organizational sciences and social psychology, I revise the sense of community construct to focus on its core meaning: literally, a person’s perception that a group is a community. Then using entitativity and social identity theories, I develop a new model of sense of community and propose theoretical boundaries (e.g., membership, identity, and self-categorization) to explain why prosocial and extremist virtual communities differ. I end with the challenges facing a research program studying extremist virtual communities.

Partisan and/or Gender Homophily: The Influence of Social Identity-Based Elaboration on Political Candidate Evaluation

Employing social identity theory, this study explores the interaction of gender and party variables in political elections. We used an experimental approach with a two (man/woman) x two (Republican/Democrat) design, in which participants viewed a political website, to assess the influence of shared and competing identities in candidate evaluations as well as the mechanisms of influence. Upholding previous findings, we found that a candidate’s partisan identity carried significantly more weight than their gender identity. Extending previous findings, results reveal that shared identities increase feelings of homophily, which biases elaboration about the candidate. This identity-biased elaboration influences attitudes and voting decisions.

Mitigating Identity Threat in Health Messaging: A Social Identity Complexity Perspective

ABSTRACT Health messages aiming to reduce red meat consumption may threaten multiple social identities because people’s dietary choices are intertwined with personal, social, and cultural aspects of their lives. Leveraging social identity theory and the concept of social identity complexity, this experiment tested how identity-threatening messages affect people’s intention to reduce red meat consumption and how the effect of identity threat may be moderated by messages highlighting the relationships between multiple identities that define a person. Participants (N = 409) read messages that varied identity threat (i.e. the extent to which people feel devalued because of their membership in a social group) and identity complexity (i.e. the extent to which people perceive multiple identities as independent). The study found that identity-threatening messages decreased intentions to reduce red meat consumption when people perceived their dietary identity as overlapping with other identities, but increased the intentions when the dietary identity was seen as independent from other identities. Further, the effects of identity threat and complexity were limited to people with high (vs. low) levels of red meat consumption. We discuss the role of identity complexity in alleviating identity threat and increasing persuasion.

CONSUMER COMFORT IN SOCIAL SCIENCES: A BIBLIOMETRIC ANALYSIS

This research aims to analyze consumer comfort studies in the research areas of business, behavioral sciences, and social sciences using performance and science mapping analysis, which are part of the bibliometric analysis method. This paper uses the Web of Science database to examine the most significant authors, journals, keywords, theories, countries, and their citations. This research uses VOSviewer software, specifically for citation analysis, co-citation analysis, bibliographic coupling, co-word analysis, co-authorship analysis, keyword clustering, and graphical visualization. Additionally, the research employs the SPAR-4-SLR protocol for conducting a bibliometric analysis. According to findings, the studies of consumer comfort are mostly influenced by Fornell, J. F., Spake, D. F., Parasuraman, A., and Patterson, P. G. Also, Butcher et al., (2001), Riley et al., (2000), Dobrow (2013), and Joffe et al. (2003) are the most cited articles. Facilities journal has the highest number of studies. The United States is the most frequently cited country. The most used keywords are client relationships, interpersonal communication, repurchase intention. Additionally, comfort theory is commonly used followed by the signaling theory, social identity theory, and self-efficacy theory. The research offers guidance for future research, identifying potential areas of study and contributing to the progression and enhancement of research on consumer comfort. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper represents the first bibliometric evaluation of consumer comfort. An investigation of studies on consumer comfort is expected to provide precious guidelines for future researchers, managers, and entrepreneurs.

Voices in the Virtual: Constructing Linguistic Identity in Digital Spaces

The emergence of digital spaces has fundamentally reshaped how humans interact and communicate. The research paper explores the intricate dynamics of language and identity in the online environment in the Indian context. The influence of the Internet and digital spaces has provided unprecedented opportunities to express their linguistic identities in diverse ways. The paper examines how digital platforms allow individuals to construct their linguistic identities, a process shaped by social interaction, platform constraint, and social interaction. Code-switching, online slang, and manipulation of registers highly influence the formation of the digital persona or image of oneself, also known as digital self-fashioning does not come without complexities. With the help of Social Identity theory and Goffman’s dramaturgy, the paper highlights the social construction of the linguistic selves. Through the analysis of the case studies and the theoretical framework, the paper discusses the process of linguistic identity development in digital space and its impact on social dynamics, cultural representation, and individual expression.

Conformity or differentiation: How corporate social responsibility affects employee behaviour in China

AbstractIn reality, not all enterprises pursue the same or similar corporate social responsibility practices. The effects produced by enterprises fulfilling the identical corporate social responsibility are not always the same. Based on the social identity theory and social exchange theory, this paper discusses the impact of corporate social responsibility on employee behaviour, so as to clarify the deep‐rooted motivations and effects of enterprises' choice of different social responsibility strategies under Chinese unique institutional contexts. By adopting a quantitative approach, this paper finds that corporate social responsibility positively predicts employee behaviour, and that different types of corporate social responsibility have different effects. In addition, this paper finds that employee organisational commitment mediates the relationship between corporate social responsibility and employee behaviour. Consistent corporate social responsibility mainly affects employees' in‐role behaviour primarily through normative commitment, and differentiated corporate social responsibility mainly affects employees' extra‐role behaviour through affective commitment. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.

The influence of allocentrism on residents’ sustainable entrepreneurial intentions in collectivist rural tourism destinations – a perspective from face and guanxi

Given the dual research gap between the topic of sustainable entrepreneurship in tourism and non-Western cultural contexts, this study integrates social identity and social embeddedness theories and introduces the concepts of face and guanxi to discuss the influence of residents’ allocentrism on their sustainable entrepreneurial intentions (SEI) in collectivist rural tourism destinations. The study adopted a dominant-sequential mixed research design. The study finds that residents’ allocentrism can directly influence or indirectly stimulate SEI by enhancing their desire to gain face and reinforcing guanxi. Residents desiring to pursue face are more willing to engage in sustainable entrepreneurship. Residents with stronger guanxi are more confident in overcoming the additional risks associated with maintaining entrepreneurial sustainability. This study suggests that the entrepreneurial process does not have to be a highly individualistic pursuit, and collectivist cultural values play a critical role in entrepreneurial decision-making processes regarding sustainability.

Group responses to deviance: Disentangling the motivational roles of collective enhancement and self-uncertainty reduction

In this paper, we describe two basic motives for social identification: a drive for collective enhancement and a drive for epistemic fulfillment (uncertainty reduction). We posit that these two motives are critical for understanding one of the fundamental underlying mechanisms of social identity theory (SIT): positive distinctiveness, which is a desire to feel different from and better than relevant outgroups. Whereas “positive” was clearly outlined in the original social identity theory of intergroup relations, “distinctiveness” became a focal point of self-categorization theory. Most existing literature treats positive distinctiveness as a single construct; however, we argue that the “positive” and “distinctive” elements should be treated as separate but critically intertwined concepts. We suggest that “positive” is a direct feature of a desire for collective enhancement, and “distinctiveness” from a relevant outgroup is necessary for self-categorization that provides information to reduce self-uncertainty. Using the subjective group dynamics framework, which has historically emphasized the enhancement motive, we mathematically show that the motives act sequentially and differently to affect responses to deviance and change from it.

Research on the Influence of Video Content Features on User Behaviour

Research on user engagement behaviours within User-Generated Content (UGC) video platforms is notably scarce, despite previous studies predominantly focusing on user-level information. This study contends that enriched video information holds significant value. Its objective is to provide a profound understanding of the influence mechanisms of video content features on user engagement behaviours within UGC video platforms. Combining exploratory and quantitative methodologies, the research introduces a highly detailed framework for video content features, covering both cognitive and emotional dimensions. The framework encompasses content richness at the video level and emotional features at the user level. Addressing user behaviours, the study encompasses liking, sharing, saving, and tipping, representing users' varied contributions to the platform. The triggers for user behaviours often originate from diverse motivational intentions. The research focuses on a dual perspective, blending user and video viewpoints when examining video content features. Utilizing linear regression equations grounded in social identity theory and emotional support theory, the study explains the role of video content features in triggering user engagement behaviours. Age and gender serve as moderator variables, exploring behavioural disparities between male and female users and across different age groups. Findings indicate that factors triggering user likes and shares primarily stem from the level of interaction in the comment section, while tipping contributions and video saves are influenced by emotional support during viewing. The study also reveals that sadness enhances user participation intentions, while positive emotions in video characters or commenters diminish user engagement intentions. Lastly, the research adopts web crawling through legally accessible interfaces as the primary data collection method, encompassing 435 videos from 25 food category video authors.

The Transcendence of Conflict Resolution in Society (Social Policy) and Business Organization

Conflicts are present everywhere in both societal interactions and business environments, often leading to damaging consequences if left unaddressed. Traditional conflict resolution methods typically focus on tangible outcomes and compromises, often neglecting the basic emotional and psychological aspects. This paper advocates for a departure from conventional pattern by proposing a supernatural approach to conflict resolution. Integrating sociological and business organization lenses to offer comprehensive insights and strategies. Drawing upon a mixture of philosophical, spiritual, sociological, and psychological framework, this paper offers alternative perspectives and strategies for addressing conflicts. Through an interdisciplinary approach, the paper incorporates concepts such as social identity theory, organizational behavior, and strategic management. We endeavor to go beyond traditional boundaries and explore innovative pathways. The study investigates how social structures, power dynamics, and cultural norms intersect with mindfulness, empathy, and affiliation to shape conflicts and inform conflict resolution practices in both societal and business contexts. By going beyond the conventional patterns, the paper aims to promote deeper understanding, empathy, and sustainable resolutions conducive to harmony and growth within communities and organizations.

Gender Discourses in Civil Engineering TVET College programs: Marginalized Female Voices in the Learning of Engineering Concepts

Collectively, the Engineering sector is still the most male-dominated field and most TVET College graduates are males. Why is this even a case when the fourth industrial revolution pushes all livelihood boundaries and ensures that males and females are exposed to similar opportunities in the sector? Of course, there can never be a comprehensive response to this patriarchal question. Hence, this study delved into this societal issue through classroom discourse in a Civil Engineering and Building Construction course at a TVET college in Limpopo Province. This study was premised on the fact that lecturers in the college use “male” examples more than those of women which affects how women perceived the Civil Engineering field. Moreover, this study laid bare the preferences of female students and how they want to be involved in discourses without making reference to gender roles. This study used a qualitative research approach for a case of eleven (11) female students. Data was collected through focused group interviews. The study employed the Social Identity Theory as its framework. The study found that indeed unconscious biases are happening during classroom discourses and that the lecturers seem to be unaware of this. As a recommendation, reskilling, and upskilling of TVET college lecturers is needed as a matter of urgency with a focus on their scholarship of teaching and learning. Universities as close partners to TVET colleges can facilitate these professional development programs. This study contributes to the global discourse on female inclusion in the engineering sector and the pedagogical practices of an engineering educator in a TVET college. Keywords: Classroom discourse, Civil Engineering, Female students, TVET colleges

Navigating Misfit Feedback: The Role of Organizational Prestige in Early-Stage Recruitment

AbstractRecognizing the ability of organizational prestige to meet financial, career, social, and status needs, we posit that job seekers will desire employment with prestigious firms in the face of person–organization (PO) misfit feedback. Drawing upon social identity theory, the theory of symbolic attraction, and the motivational model of fit, we suggest that when job seekers disagree with PO misfit feedback, prestige and the imagined benefits of employment motivate job seekers to desire employment. These imagined benefits serve as a needs-meeting mechanism aiding self-esteem, self-worth, and perceived social status. We conducted a between-subjects experiment investigating PO fit feedback, agreement with PO fit feedback, and employer image to explore this phenomenon. Notably, we found that when job seekers disagreed with misfit feedback, they reported greater organizational desirability when the organization was impressive (versus respectable). We discuss the theoretical and practical implications of job seeker reactions to PO fit feedback and organizational prestige as a needs-meeting mechanism.

Does Servant Leadership Affect Public Employees’ Innovative Behavior? The Mediating Role of Organizational Identity

Objective: In the context of China’s deepening reform era, innovation is the first driving force leading development. Involving a sample of 576 public employees from government agencies in Yunnan, China, the present study investigates the impact of servant leadership on public employees’ innovative behavior, as well as the underlying mechanisms of this relationship. Theoretical Framework: According to social identity theory, organizational identity signifies the extent to which individuals acknowledge and identify with their organization. Previous research has shown that leadership styles indirectly affect employee behaviors (e. g., innovative behaviors) through employees’ cognition and emotion [16-18], therefore, organizational identity may be a potential mediating variable in the correlation between servant leadership and the innovative behavior exhibited by employees. Method: Data was collected between September 2023 and January 2024 among public sector employees in Kunming, located in the Yunnan province. The data was collected in two phases at different time points. First, we distributed questionnaires among part-time MPA students in a university in Yunnan province in the first stage. Then, we continued to distribute questionnaires among full-time public employees at various public sectors in Kunming city. Results and Discussion: The results revealed a positive impact of servant leadership on the innovative behavior of Chinese public employees. Additionally, organizational identity partially mediated the association between servant leadership and the innovative behavior of Chinese public employees. These findings may provide some suggestions for the public organizations in China. Research Implications: The present study also has several practical implications for policy-makers within the public sector. First, public organizations ought to attach importance to the servant leadership because it can effectively promote employees’ innovative behavior. Specifically, public organizations can regard the traits of servant leadership as a criterion for selecting leaders within the public sector. By doing so, public organizations can encourage servant leadership style by selecting and promoting those employees with awareness and traits of serving others. Originality/Value: After deleting invalid questionnaires, 576 completed questionnaires were obtained finally. Of all the participants, 24% (n = 138) was male and 76% (n = 438) was female.77.6% of the participants were under the age of 26 years (n = 447). 61.8% (n = 356) have worked less five years in the public sector.

Potential impact of relational job design on future intentions of episodic volunteers in major sport events.

Based on Social Identity Theory, this study hypothesized the parallel mediating roles of organizational commitment, and commitment to beneficiaries, in the relationship between relational job design and future volunteer intentions among episodic volunteers at a mega sport event. Perceived organizational support was tested as a moderator of this relationship. Participants were 617 episodic volunteers (35.7% male and 64.3% female) at the 7th CISM Military World Games in Wuhan, China, who completed online questionnaires. Regression-based analyses indicated that relational job design positively predicted future volunteer intentions through organizational commitment. Although the results did not indicate a mediating role of commitment to beneficiaries, relational job design was still shown to positively predict commitment to beneficiaries. Furthermore, the association between relational job design and commitment to beneficiaries was moderated by perceived organizational support, such the effect was stronger when perceived organizational support was high. The results have practical implications for strengthening episodic volunteers' intentions to participate in future mega sport events, creating a legacy of volunteerism.