Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 11, 2026
11:13
The Social Dimension of Stress: Experimental Manipulations of Social Support and Social Identity in the Trier Social Stress Test
Published on: November 19, 2015
Status, equity and social identification during an intergroup merger: a longitudinal study
Catherine E Amiot1, Deborah J Terry, Victor J Callan
1The University of Queensland, Australia. amiot.catherine@uqam.ca
The British Journal of Social Psychology
|September 20, 2007
Summary
Employees from low-status organizations experienced poorer merger adjustment over time compared to high-status groups. Identification with the new organization mediated fairness perceptions and adjustment changes.
Area of Science:
- Organizational Psychology
- Social Psychology
- Sociology
Background:
- Mergers create intergroup dynamics impacting employee adjustment.
- Pre-merger organizational status can influence post-merger experiences.
- Understanding differential adjustment is crucial for successful integration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine longitudinal adjustment patterns of employees from low vs. high status pre-merger organizations.
- To identify predictors of adjustment in post-merger environments.
- To explore the mediating role of organizational identification.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study with 215 employees.
- Two-wave data collection: 3 months and 2 years post-merger.
- Analysis of adjustment, fairness perceptions, in-group bias, and organizational identification.
Main Results:
- Low-status employees perceived less fairness and showed decreased adjustment over time.
- High-status employees demonstrated increased adjustment, lower in-group bias, and higher identification.
- Organizational identification mediated the relationship between fairness perceptions and adjustment.
Conclusions:
- Pre-merger status significantly predicts post-merger adjustment trajectories.
- Fairness perceptions and organizational identification are key factors in employee integration.
- Intergroup dynamics and status hierarchies play a critical role in organizational mergers.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Social Identity
Social identity constitutes a significant aspect of an individual’s self-concept, shaped by membership in various social groups, including gender, nationality, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and political affiliation. Individuals associate specific traits with particular social groups, leading to internalization of these traits. For example, musicians are often perceived as creative, while women are frequently associated with nurturing tendencies. Once individuals identify with a particular...
01:27Ethnic Identity within a Larger Culture
Adolescents from ethnic minority backgrounds face a multifaceted journey in forming their identities, shaped by the intersections of cultural expectations and personal exploration. For these adolescents, identity formation involves not only typical developmental challenges but also navigating the perceptions and attitudes of the majority culture. As they grow, adolescents in ethnic minority groups often become increasingly aware of stereotypes, social biases, and discrimination, all of which...
01:27Sources of Self-Esteem III: Social Comparison
Social comparison plays a fundamental role in the evaluation of personal success and self-worth. Rather than assessing our achievements in isolation, we interpret their significance relative to personal goals and critically in comparison to the performance of others. A grade of B in a mathematics exam might elicit pride if one's expectation was a C, yet result in disappointment if an A was anticipated or if peers achieved superior results. These comparative evaluations illustrate how both...
01:31In- and Out-Groups
People all belong to a gender, race, age, and social economic group. These groups provide a powerful source of our identity and self-esteem (Tajfel & Turner, 1979) and serve as our in-groups. An in-group is a group that we identify with or see ourselves as belonging to.
01:26Equity Theory
Equity theory explains how our sense of fairness influences the dynamics of close relationships. Rooted in social psychology, the theory posits that individuals evaluate fairness by comparing the ratio of their contributions to the rewards they receive. Relationship satisfaction is highest when these ratios are perceived as balanced between partners, promoting mutual reciprocity and a sense of justice.Equity vs. Equality in RelationshipsEquity is distinct from equality. Fairness does not...
01:19Impact of Groups on Groups
Social psychologists analyze how groups influence one another, shaping social structures and interactions through both cooperation and competition. These dynamics manifest in various ways, ranging from economic partnerships to intergroup conflicts that shape societal structures and perceptions.Cooperation and Competition in Intergroup RelationsIntergroup relationships vary across contexts, sometimes fostering cooperation and mutual benefit while at other times leading to conflict and...