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The likes that bind: Even novel opinion sharing can induce opinion-based identification
Caoimhe O'Reilly1, Paul J Maher1, Michael Quayle1,2
1Department of Psychology, University of Limerick, Castletroy, Ireland.
The British Journal of Social Psychology
|May 30, 2024
Summary
Opinion congruence alone can form psychological groups and foster identification. This group identification influences opinion polarization after exposure to new opinions, demonstrating opinions as self-categorization cues.
Area of Science:
- Social Psychology
- Cognitive Science
- Computational Social Science
Background:
- Psychological group formation is often linked to shared opinions.
- Prior research connected opinion congruence to pre-existing social identities.
- The independent role of opinion congruence in group formation was unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if opinion congruence alone, independent of socio-structural context, can serve as a cue for group identification.
- To determine if group identification mediates the relationship between opinion exposure and opinion polarization.
- To examine the self-categorization potential of novel opinions.
Main Methods:
- Two pre-registered online interactive experiments were conducted.
- Study 1 (N=1168) compared identity formation based on opinion congruence versus minimal groups.
- Study 2 (N=505) compared identity formation based on opinion congruence versus non-opinion congruence.
Main Results:
- Opinion congruence fostered stronger group identification than minimal groups (Study 1).
- Opinion congruence led to stronger identification compared to non-opinion congruence (Study 2).
- Group identification mediated the link between opinion exposure and opinion polarization in both studies.
Conclusions:
- Novel opinions can function as self-categorization cues, driving group identification.
- Opinion congruence is a sufficient basis for psychological group formation.
- Group identification plays a crucial role in mediating opinion polarization.
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