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'This will bring shame on our nation': The role of anticipated group-based emotions on collective action
Lee Shepherd1, Russell Spears, Antony S R Manstead
1Department of Psychology, School of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Scotland, UK ; School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Wales, UK.
Abstract:
In three studies we examined whether the anticipation of group-based guilt, shame and anger predicts the desire to undertake collective action against a proposed ingroup transgression. In Studies 1 (N = 179) and 2 (N = 186), the relation between appraising a proposed ingroup transgression as illegitimate and collective action was mediated (or partially mediated) by anticipated group-based shame and anger. In Study 3 (N = 128) participants with high self-investment group identification were less willing to engage in collective action against the prospective ingroup transgression when aversive anticipated group-based emotions were made salient. This effect was mediated by anticipated group-based shame. We discuss the implications of these results with regard to collective action and the morality of intergroup behavior.
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