A Social Recognition Approach to Autonomy: The Role of Equality-Based Respect

Too different to be equal: Lack of public respect is associated with reduced self-respect for stigmatized individuals

Individuals with physical and mental disabilities can be stigmatized and perceived in terms of their disabilities in the public domain. This is less pervasive in the private domain, because of the presence of individuating information. We argue that disabilities decrease individuals' everyday opportunities to receive basic equality-based respect experiences in the public domain and thus makes it difficult for them to develop a high and secure level of self-respect (i.e., seeing the self as someone who possesses the same rights as others). These hypotheses were tested in a cross-sectional study in Norway with 173 participants (51 males, 117 females, two trans men, and three non-binary persons; Mage  = 28.00; SD = 10.33, age range: 19-77 years), of which 60 participants reported having mental or physical disabilities. In line with our hypotheses, we found higher levels of self-respect for individuals without mental or physical disabilities compared to individuals with mental or physical disabilities. In addition, results showed that respect experiences differed depending on the domain. Whereas individuals with and without disabilities did not significantly differ in the respect experiences they reported in the private domain, they did significantly differ in the respect experiences they reported in the public domain. In addition, respect experiences in the public domain mediated the relationship between disability and self-respect. Implications of the results are discussed in terms of the importance of developing high and secure levels of self-respect and in terms of how respect experiences in the public domain can be ensured for everyone.

Why the belief in one's equal rights matters: Self-respect, depressive symptoms, and suicidal ideation in Western and non-Western countries

The present research investigated the relationship between self-respect (i.e., a person's belief of possessing the same rights as others) and depressive symptoms. Based on earlier longitudinal findings that self-respect fosters assertiveness and that assertiveness negatively predicts depressive symptoms, we tested these relationships in Western and non-Western countries. Additionally, we explored associations with suicidal ideation. Across seven countries (N = 2408) we found that self-respect and depressive symptoms were negatively correlated. In addition, we found evidence for an indirect path via assertiveness as well as negative correlations with suicidal ideation in countries with available measures. Finally, within-manuscript meta-analyses confirmed the main path between self-respect and depressive symptoms across all seven countries. This research presents the first evidence for the negative association between self-respect (feeling equal to others) and depressive symptoms and highlights new directions for linking self and self-regard to mental health.

Wahrgenommene Wertschätzung im Lehramtsstudium

Zusammenfassung. Die wahrgenommene Wertschätzung stellt nicht nur im Arbeits- sondern auch im Hochschulkontext eine wichtige soziale Ressource für die akademische Leistung, das Engagement und Wohlbefinden dar. Studentinnen und Studenten, die sich in ihren Lehrveranstaltungen wertgeschätzt fühlen, lernen erfolgreicher und neigen seltener zu Studienabbruchsintentionen. Erste Untersuchungen zeigen, dass Studentinnen und Studenten mit dem Abschlussziel Lehramt sich im Vergleich zu Fachstudentinnen und -studenten weniger von ihren Dozentinnen und Dozenten wertgeschätzt fühlen, allerdings kontrollieren diese Studien nicht für intraindividuelle Unterschiede zwischen den Studienfächern. Vor diesem Hintergrund haben wir untersucht, wie sich N = 1255 Lehramtsstudentinnen und -studenten in ihren zwei Studienfächern hinsichtlich ihrer Kompetenzen wertgeschätzt fühlen und welche personenbezogenen und fachspezifischen Faktoren die wahrgenommene Wertschätzung beeinflussen. Die Ergebnisse der mehrebenanalytischen Modelle zeigten, dass die wahrgenommene Wertschätzung durch die Dozentinnen und Dozenten vor allem auf Ebene der studierten Fächer variierte, wobei in der MINT-Fächergruppe weniger Wertschätzung wahrgenommen wurde. Zweitens haben wir anhand einer längsschnittlichen Substichprobe ( N = 436) untersucht, inwieweit die wahrgenommene Wertschätzung mit Indikatoren des Wohlbefindens, der Studienabbruchsintention sowie Veränderungen in diesen Outcomes im Verlauf eines Jahres assoziiert ist. Anhand der Ergebnisse zeigte sich, dass Studentinnen und Studenten, die sich mehr wertgeschätzt fühlten, auch zufriedener mit ihrem Studium und ihren Lehrveranstaltungen waren, mehr Fachenthusiasmus berichteten, weniger erschöpft waren und seltener zu Studienabbruchsintentionen neigten. Zusätzlich war die wahrgenommene Wertschätzung mit der Veränderung in diesen Outcomes assoziiert. Die Befunde werden vor dem Hintergrund praktischer Problemfelder wie dem Lehrkräftemangel diskutiert.

Male Allies at Work: Gender-Equality Supportive Men Reduce Negative Underrepresentation Effects Among Women

Does commitment to allyship from a dominant group member cue identity-safety for women in male-dominated environments? We examine this question by assessing women’s perceptions of workplaces that included the presence (vs. absence) of a male ally (Studies 1–3) or a female ally (Study 3), and determine the impact of Black versus White allies for Black and White women. Across three studies ( N = 1,032) and an integrative data analysis, we demonstrate that an equality-supportive male ally reduces anticipated isolation and workplace hostility and increases anticipated support, respect, and gender-equality norms for women in general populations (Studies 1 and 2) and women in science, technology, and math (Study 3). These results represent a possible strategy to help retain women in male-dominated fields.

Grover S, Eckloff T. Proactivity at Work

Abstract. We propose that two aspects of leadership, perceived respectful leadership and the degree of leaders’ prototypicality, positively affect employee proactivity. A multisource and multilevel field study of 234 employees supervised by 62 leaders shows that respectful leadership relates positively to employee proactivity in terms of personal initiative and that leader group prototypicality diminishes this effect. Moreover, perceived respectful leadership and prototypicality substitute for one another in their relation to follower proactivity. This study contributes to previous research that shows leader–follower relationships enhance proactivity by showing the impact of perceived respectful leadership and leader group prototypicality.

Does Respect Foster Tolerance? (Re)analyzing and Synthesizing Data From a Large Research Project Using Meta-Analytic Techniques

Our own prior research has demonstrated that respect for disapproved others predicts and might foster tolerance toward them. This means that without giving up their disapproval of others' way of life, people can tolerate others when they respect them as equals (outgroup respect-tolerance hypothesis). Still, there was considerable variation in the study features. Moreover, the studies are part of a larger research project that affords many additional tests of our hypothesis. To achieve integration along with a more robust understanding of the relation between respect and tolerance, we (re)analyzed all existing data from this project, and we synthesized the results with the help of meta-analytic techniques. The average standardized regression coefficient, which describes the relationship between respect and tolerance, was 0.25 (95% confidence interval [CI] = [0.16, 0.34]). In addition to this overall confirmation of our hypothesis, the size of this coefficient varied with a number of variables. It was larger for numerical majorities than for minorities, smaller for high-status than for low-status groups, and larger for religious than for life-style groups. These findings should inspire further theory development and spur growth in the social-psychological literature on tolerance.

Dynamics of respect: Evidence from two different national and political contexts

In (post-)modern, plural societies, consisting of numerous subgroups, mutual respect between groups plays a central role for a constructive social and political life. In this article, we examine whether group members’ perception of being respected by outgroups fosters respect for these outgroups. In Study 1, we employed a panel sample of supporters of the Tea Party movement in the United States (N = 422). In Study 2, we employed a panel sample of members of the LGBTI community in Germany (N = 262). As disapproved target outgroups, we chose in Study 1 homosexuals in the United States, while in Study 2, we chose supporters of the German populist, right-wing political party „Alternative für Deutschland“. Our studies thus constituted a complementary, nearly symmetrical constellation of a liberal group and a conservative political group each. Among Tea Party movement supporters, respect from a disapproved outgroup consistently predicted respect for that outgroup. Among German LGBTI community members, this effect of respect from a disapproved outgroup was found in some of our analyses. For this latter sample, there was furthermore a tendency of societal respect to predict respect for a disapproved outgroup longitudinally. Additionally, we observed for both of our samples that respect from other ingroup members decreased respect for a disapproved outgroup. The dynamics of mutual respect in these two complementary intergroup contexts are discussed as well as the importance of direct intergroup reciprocity and superordinate group membership as routes to mutual respect.

Professional Recognition at Work: The Protective Role of Esteem, Respect, and Care for Burnout Among Employees

OBJECTIVE

The present research systematically investigates the role of recognition experiences at work as a protective factor for burnout.

METHOD

In two cross-sectional studies (N = 328 and N = 220) with employees we measured via online questionnaires three forms of recognition (achievement-based social esteem, equality-based respect, and need-based care) from coworkers and supervisors as predictors and burnout among employees as outcome.

RESULTS

Using multiple regression analyses, Study 1 provided initial evidence that both supervisor and coworker recognition were negatively associated with employees' burnout. Study 2 further demonstrated that whereas respect experiences were especially crucial for lowering emotional exhaustion, care was primarily linked to reduced depersonalization and esteem to heightened personal accomplishment.

CONCLUSION

We discuss how positive recognition experiences can be fostered in organizations in order to buffer the negative effects burnout can cause.

A new perspective on intergroup conflict: The social psychology of politicized struggles for recognition

The article offers a new perspective on intergroup conflict. While building on social psychological foundations laid down in self-categorization theory, it is also critically informed by and incorporates insights from the neighboring disciplines of social, political, and moral philosophy. The new perspective is organized around the principal working hypothesis that many intergroup conflicts, especially those in modern, culturally diverse societies, can be fruitfully understood as politicized struggles for recognition. In addition, four more specific corollary hypotheses are proposed concerning polarization, respected collective identity, embedded dual identity, and tolerance. The new perspective shifts researchers’ attention to the multi-level nature of intergroup conflict and to the novel concepts of recognition and identity as a different equal.

The Context-Variable Self and Autonomy: Exploring Surveillance Experience, (Mis)recognition, and Action at Airport Security Checkpoints

This paper critiques and extends the notion of autonomy by examining how common autonomy definitions construct selfhood, with the support of an analysis of airport surveillance experiences. In psychology, autonomy is (1) often oriented around volition and action rather than the-self-that-acts and (2) the-self-that-acts is construed in singular terms. This neglects the multiple, context-variable self: while others may confirm our self-definitions (recognition), identity claims may also be rejected (misrecognition). The autonomy critique is sustained through an ethnographic analysis of airport security accounts (N = 156) in multiple nations with comparable security procedure (e.g., identification checks, luggage screening, questioning). Such procedures position people in multiple ways (e.g., as safe/dangerous, human/object, respectable/trash). Where respondents felt recognized, they experienced the security procedures positively, actively assisted in the screening process (engaged participation), and did not adapt their behaviors. Where respondents felt misrecognized, they experienced surveillance negatively, were alienated, and responded by either accommodating their behavior to avoid scrutiny, seeking to disrupt the process, or else withdrawing from screening sites. In misrecognition, the strategies that are open to the subject are incompatible with autonomy, if autonomy is defined solely in terms of volition. Accordingly, the concept of autonomy needs to be analyzed on two levels: in terms of the subject's ability freely to determine their own sense of self, as well as the actor's ability freely to enact selfhood.

Disapproved, but Tolerated: The Role of Respect in Outgroup Tolerance

We conducted two studies to test the hypothesis that respect for disapproved outgroups increases tolerance toward them. In Study 1, we employed a panel sample of supporters of the Tea Party movement in the United States and found that Tea Party supporters' respect for homosexuals and Muslims as equal fellow citizens positively predicted Tea Party supporters' tolerance toward these groups. There was no indication that alternative recognition processes (i.e., achievement recognition or need recognition) played a similar role in the development of tolerance. Study 2 replicated the respect-tolerance link with the experimental method and a more comprehensive measure of tolerance. In particular, it demonstrated that the link also holds with regard to tolerance in the public or political sphere. The wider implications of our research for societal pluralism are discussed.

Muslims' tolerance towards outgroups: Longitudinal evidence for the role of respect

We employed a longitudinal design to test two hypotheses concerning Muslims' respect for and tolerance towards disapproved outgroups. In support of the outgroup respect-tolerance hypothesis derived from the disapproval-respect model of social tolerance, our results strongly suggest that respect for disapproved outgroups is not just a correlate of tolerance towards those groups, but a causal antecedent. In support of the intergroup respect-reciprocity hypothesis, we identified respect from disapproved outgroups as an effective source of respect for disapproved outgroups and therefore also as a (distal) source of tolerance towards those groups. Normative and political implications are discussed.