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The HoneyComb Paradigm for Research on Collective Human Behavior
Published on: January 19, 2019
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Collectivism and meaning-making: A search for moderators.
Daphna Oyserman1, Yahan Huang1, Amabel Y Jeon1
1University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America.
Plos One
|April 30, 2026
Summary
People high in collectivism find more meaning in ambiguous statements, especially from their in-group. This meaning-making tendency is influenced by group dynamics and context, not just individual values.
Area of Science:
- Social Psychology
- Political Psychology
- Communication Studies
Background:
- Collectivism, valuing group membership and belonging, influences social cognition and behavior.
- Individuals high in collectivism may seek meaning in ambiguous communication to maintain group cohesion.
- Understanding the moderators of this meaning-seeking tendency is crucial for social interaction theories.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between collectivism and finding meaning in ambiguous statements.
- To examine the moderating roles of communicator group membership, focus on meaning-making versus accuracy, and processing depth.
- To explore contextual factors influencing collectivism's effect on meaning-making.
Main Methods:
- Three experiments with a total of 1,174 participants were conducted.
- Participants' endorsement of collectivistic values was measured.
- Responses to ambiguous statements were analyzed, considering communicator group, task focus, and recall.
Main Results:
- Higher collectivism consistently correlated with perceiving more meaning in ambiguous statements.
- This association was stronger when the communicator belonged to the participant's in-group versus an out-group.
- Meaning-making effects were context-dependent, influenced by group type and boundary salience, particularly around political events.
Conclusions:
- Collectivism enhances meaning-making in ambiguous communication, particularly in intergroup contexts.
- The effect of collectivism on meaning-making is moderated by group membership and context, not solely by individual differences.
- Future research should explore the interplay of group dynamics and collectivism in shaping communication processing.
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