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White C, Morales D, Xygalatas D, Hernu M, Mathiassen A, Ainsworth A, Geraty M, Bayindir N, Robinson B, Whitehouse H. How shared suffering bonded Britons witnessing the Queen's funeral. Sci Rep 2024; 14:16620. [PMID: 39025862 PMCID: PMC11258316 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-66537-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Previous research suggests that sharing emotionally intense experiences with others, for example by undergoing dysphoric collective rituals together, can lead to "identity fusion," a visceral feeling of oneness that predicts group cohesion and self-sacrifice for the group. In this pre-registered research, we provide the first quantitative investigation of identity fusion following participation in a national funeral, surveying 1632 members of the British public. As predicted, individuals reporting intense sadness during Queen Elizabeth II's funeral exhibited higher levels of identity fusion and pro-group commitment, as evidenced by generosity pledges to a British Monarchist charity. Also consistent with our hypotheses, feelings of unity in grief and emotional sharedness during the event mediated the relationship between sadness intensity and pro-group commitment. These findings shed light on importance of collective rituals in fostering group cohesion, cooperation, and the dynamics of shared emotional experiences within communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire White
- Religious Studies Department, California State University Northridge, 230 Santa Susana Hall, 18111 Nordhoff Street, Northridge, CA, 91330-8316, USA.
| | - Danielle Morales
- Department of Sociology, California State University, Northridge, USA
| | - Dimitris Xygalatas
- Department of Anthropology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, USA
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, USA
| | - Mathilde Hernu
- Institute of Cognition and Culture, Queen's University, Belfast, UK
| | - Anna Mathiassen
- Department of Psychology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Andrew Ainsworth
- Department of Psychology, California State University, Northridge, USA
| | - Meara Geraty
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, USA
| | - Nisa Bayindir
- Institute of Cognition and Culture, Queen's University, Belfast, UK
| | | | - Harvey Whitehouse
- School of Anthropology & Museum Ethnography, Oxford University, Oxford, UK
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Reinhardt L, Whitehouse H. Why care for humanity? ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2024; 11:231632. [PMID: 38633352 PMCID: PMC11022010 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.231632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
Some of the most pressing challenges facing our planet-such as climate change, biodiversity loss, warfare and extreme poverty-require social cohesion and prosocial action on a global scale. How can this be achieved? Previous research suggests that identity fusion-a strong form of group cohesion motivating prosocial action-results from perceptions of shared personally transformative experiences or of common biological essence. Here, we present results from two studies with United States samples exploring each pathway to identity fusion on a global scale. Study 1 focused on globally shared motherhood experiences and found that US mothers were more fused with women around the world if they shared motherhood experiences with them, which was also reflected in money allocation behaviour. Study 2 showed that exposure to a talk about globally shared biology increased fusion with humanity at large, Americans and the extended family suggesting that fusion with humanity does not need to weaken fusion with nation or extended family. We discuss implications of our results for future research on bonding with humanity at large and for addressing collective action problems on a global scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukas Reinhardt
- Centre for the Study of Social Cohesion, School of Anthropology and Museum Ethnography, University of Oxford, OxfordOX2 6PE, UK
- Identity and Conflict Lab, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Department of Economics, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Harvey Whitehouse
- Centre for the Study of Social Cohesion, School of Anthropology and Museum Ethnography, University of Oxford, OxfordOX2 6PE, UK
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3
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Hare D, Dickman AJ, Johnson PJ, Rono BJ, Mutinhima Y, Sutherland C, Kulunge S, Sibanda L, Mandoloma L, Kimaili D. Public perceptions of trophy hunting are pragmatic, not dogmatic. Proc Biol Sci 2024; 291:20231638. [PMID: 38351797 PMCID: PMC10865007 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.1638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Fierce international debates rage over whether trophy hunting is socially acceptable, especially when people from the Global North hunt well-known animals in sub-Saharan Africa. We used an online vignette experiment to investigate public perceptions of the acceptability of trophy hunting in sub-Saharan Africa among people who live in urban areas of the USA, UK and South Africa. Acceptability depended on specific attributes of different hunts as well as participants' characteristics. Zebra hunts were more acceptable than elephant hunts, hunts that would provide meat to local people were more acceptable than hunts in which meat would be left for wildlife, and hunts in which revenues would support wildlife conservation were more acceptable than hunts in which revenues would support either economic development or hunting enterprises. Acceptability was generally lower among participants from the UK and those who more strongly identified as an animal protectionist, but higher among participants with more formal education, who more strongly identified as a hunter, or who would more strongly prioritize people over wild animals. Overall, acceptability was higher when hunts would produce tangible benefits for local people, suggesting that members of three urban publics adopt more pragmatic positions than are typically evident in polarized international debates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darragh Hare
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, The Recanati-Kaplan Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Amy J. Dickman
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, The Recanati-Kaplan Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Paul J. Johnson
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, The Recanati-Kaplan Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Betty J. Rono
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa
| | - Yolanda Mutinhima
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Chinhoyi University of Technology, Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe
| | - Chris Sutherland
- Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling, School of Mathematics and Statistics, St Andrews University, St Andrews, UK
| | - Salum Kulunge
- Department of Wildlife Management, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania
- Tanzania Wildlife Management Authority, Morogoro, Tanzania
| | - Lovemore Sibanda
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, The Recanati-Kaplan Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Cheetah Conservation Project Zimbabwe, Dete, Zimbabwe
| | | | - David Kimaili
- Department of Sociology and Anthropology, South Eastern Kenya University, Kitui, Kenya
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4
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Cork A, Everson R, Naserian E, Levine M, Koschate-Reis M. Collective self-understanding: A linguistic style analysis of naturally occurring text data. Behav Res Methods 2023; 55:4455-4477. [PMID: 36443583 PMCID: PMC9707163 DOI: 10.3758/s13428-022-02027-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Understanding what groups stand for is integral to a diverse array of social processes, ranging from understanding political conflicts to organisational behaviour to promoting public health behaviours. Traditionally, researchers rely on self-report methods such as interviews and surveys to assess groups' collective self-understandings. Here, we demonstrate the value of using naturally occurring online textual data to map the similarities and differences between real-world groups' collective self-understandings. We use machine learning algorithms to assess similarities between 15 diverse online groups' linguistic style, and then use multidimensional scaling to map the groups in two-dimensonal space (N=1,779,098 Reddit comments). We then use agglomerative and k-means clustering techniques to assess how the 15 groups cluster, finding there are four behaviourally distinct group types - vocational, collective action (comprising political and ethnic/religious identities), relational and stigmatised groups, with stigmatised groups having a less distinctive behavioural profile than the other group types. Study 2 is a secondary data analysis where we find strong relationships between the coordinates of each group in multidimensional space and the groups' values. In Study 3, we demonstrate how this approach can be used to track the development of groups' collective self-understandings over time. Using transgender Reddit data (N= 1,095,620 comments) as a proof-of-concept, we track the gradual politicisation of the transgender group over the past decade. The automaticity of this methodology renders it advantageous for monitoring multiple online groups simultaneously. This approach has implications for both governmental agencies and social researchers more generally. Future research avenues and applications are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicia Cork
- Department of Psychology, University of Bath, Bath, UK.
| | - Richard Everson
- Department of Computer Science, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
- Alan Turing Institute, London, UK
| | - Elahe Naserian
- Department of Politics, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Mark Levine
- Department of Psychology, University of Lancaster, Lancaster, UK
| | - Miriam Koschate-Reis
- Institute for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
- Department of Psychology, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
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5
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Varmann AH, Kruse L, Bierwiaczonek K, Gómez Á, Vázquez A, Kunst JR. How identity fusion predicts extreme pro-group orientations: A meta-analysis. EUROPEAN REVIEW OF SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY 2023. [DOI: 10.1080/10463283.2023.2190267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
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6
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Mitchell J, Occhipinti S, Oaten M. The affiliative power of others' pain online. JOURNAL OF APPLIED SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/jasp.12941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jessie Mitchell
- School of Applied Psychology Griffith University Mount Gravatt Queensland Australia
| | - Stefano Occhipinti
- School of Applied Psychology Griffith University Mount Gravatt Queensland Australia
- Department of English and Communication Hong Kong Polytechnic University Hung Hom Hong Kong
| | - Megan Oaten
- School of Applied Psychology Griffith University Mount Gravatt Queensland Australia
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Abstract
Identity fusion is traditionally conceptualized as innately parochial, with fused actors motivated to commit acts of violence on out-groups. However, fusion's aggressive outcomes are largely conditional on threat perception, with its effect on benign intergroup relationships underexplored. The present article outlines the fusion-secure base hypothesis, which argues that fusion may engender cooperative relationships with out-groups in the absence of out-group threat. Fusion is characterized by four principles, each of which allows a fused group to function as a secure base in which in-group members feel safe, agentic, and supported. This elicits a secure base schema, which increases the likelihood of fused actors interacting with out-groups and forming cooperative, reciprocal relationships. Out-group threat remains an important moderator, with its presence "flipping the switch" in fused actors and promoting a willingness to violently protect the group even at significant personal cost. Suggestions for future research are explored, including pathways to intergroup fusion.
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Prosocial correlates of transformative experiences at secular multi-day mass gatherings. Nat Commun 2022; 13:2600. [PMID: 35624086 PMCID: PMC9142525 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-29600-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Humans have long sought experiences that transcend or change their sense of self. By weakening boundaries between the self and others, such transformative experiences may lead to enduring changes in moral orientation. Here we investigated the psychological nature and prosocial correlates of transformative experiences by studying participants before (n = 600), during (n = 1217), 0-4 weeks after (n = 1866), and 6 months after (n = 710) they attended a variety of secular, multi-day mass gatherings in the US and UK. Observations at 6 field studies and 22 online followup studies spanning 5 years showed that self-reported transformative experiences at mass gatherings were common, increased over time, and were characterized by feelings of universal connectedness and new perceptions of others. Participants' circle of moral regard expanded with every passing day onsite-an effect partially mediated by transformative experience and feelings of universal connectedness. Generosity was remarkably high across sites but did not change over time. Immediately and 6 months following event attendance, self-reported transformative experience persisted and predicted both generosity (directly) and moral expansion (indirectly). These findings highlight the prosocial qualities of transformative experiences at secular mass gatherings and suggest such experiences may be associated with lasting changes in moral orientation.
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Shared Flashbulb Memories Lead to Identity Fusion: Recalling the Defeat in the Brexit Referendum Produces Strong Psychological Bonds Among Remain Supporters. JOURNAL OF APPLIED RESEARCH IN MEMORY AND COGNITION 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jarmac.2021.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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10
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Newson M, Khurana R, Cazorla F, van Mulukom V. 'I Get High With a Little Help From My Friends' - How Raves Can Invoke Identity Fusion and Lasting Co-operation via Transformative Experiences. Front Psychol 2021; 12:719596. [PMID: 34646208 PMCID: PMC8504457 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.719596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Psychoactive drugs have been central to many human group rituals throughout modern human evolution. Despite such experiences often being inherently social, bonding and associated prosocial behaviors have rarely been empirically tested as an outcome. Here we investigate a novel measure of the mechanisms that generate altered states of consciousness during group rituals, the 4Ds: dance, drums, sleep deprivation, and drugs. We conducted a retrospective online survey examining experiences at a highly ritualized cultural phenomenon where drug use is relatively uninhibited- raves and illegal free parties. Engaging in the 4Ds at raves or free parties was associated with personal transformation for those who experienced the event as awe-inspiring, especially for people with open personalities (n = 481). Without awe, or a ritual context, indulging in the 4Ds was associated with a lack of personal growth, or anomie. A complex SEM revealed that personal transformation following awe-inspiring raves was associated with bonding to other ravers and prosocial behavior toward this group at a cost to self in a simple economic game. Bonding to humanity was not associated with these events. The findings suggest that employing the 4Ds in a ritualized environment - particularly dancing and drug use - can help build meaningful social bonds with associated positive behavioral outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martha Newson
- School of Anthropology and Conservation, University of Kent, Canterbury, United Kingdom
- Centre for the Study of Social Cohesion, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Ragini Khurana
- Department of Sociology, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
| | - Freya Cazorla
- School of Anthropology and Conservation, University of Kent, Canterbury, United Kingdom
| | - Valerie van Mulukom
- Centre for the Study of Social Cohesion, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Centre for Trust, Peace and Social Relations, Coventry University, Coventry, United Kingdom
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11
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Vijay V, Field CR, Gollnow F, Jones KK. Using internet search data to understand information seeking behavior for health and conservation topics during the COVID-19 pandemic. BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION 2021; 257:109078. [PMID: 34584274 PMCID: PMC8460288 DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2021.109078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2020] [Revised: 02/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Emerging zoonotic diseases, such as COVID-19, exist at the intersection of human health and the environment. Public interest and support are required to maximize the effectiveness of policies to combat the current pandemic and prevent future outbreaks of zoonoses. Here, we use internet search data from the United States to investigate changes in public information seeking about topics at the intersection of health and the environment during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using breakpoint detection methods, we identify sharp increases in interest for 'wildlife trade', 'bats', and 'pangolins' in the early stages of the pandemic (on Jan. 12, Jan. 19, and Jan. 26, 2020, respectively). Network analyses also revealed increasing connectivity between terms related to human health and the environment, as well as the emergence of novel search terms pointing to a greater interest in wildlife trade and consumption. During the pandemic, the network connectivity between coronavirus keywords and conservation keywords increased, which we measured using the number of unique connections (edge connectivity, k' (G)) and the number of simple paths (Sp) between keywords. Both measures of network connectivity increased between 'coronavirus' and 'bats' or 'pangolins' (Δk' (G) = 1, ΔSp = 37), and between 'coronavirus' and 'conservation' (Δk' (G) = 1, ΔSp = 160). These findings suggest that policy and outreach efforts aimed at engaging public interest in intersectional approaches to pandemic prevention (eg: One Health, Planetary Health), may be able to take advantage of increases in public information seeking following catalyzing events during the pandemic. Further monitoring is needed to determine if these changes persist over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Varsha Vijay
- National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center, University of Maryland, Annapolis, MD 21401, USA
- National Institute for Mathematical and Biological Synthesis, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA
| | - Christopher R Field
- Department of Natural Resources Science, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA
| | - Florian Gollnow
- National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center, University of Maryland, Annapolis, MD 21401, USA
- Department of Earth and Environment, Boston University, 685 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Kelly K Jones
- National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center, University of Maryland, Annapolis, MD 21401, USA
- National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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12
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Barrios-O'Neill D. Focus and social contagion of environmental organization advocacy on Twitter. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2021; 35:307-315. [PMID: 32495972 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2019] [Revised: 05/08/2020] [Accepted: 05/15/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Agriculture, overexploitation, and urbanization remain the major threats to biodiversity in the Anthropocene. The attention these threats garner among leading environmental nongovernmental organizations (eNGOs) and the wider public is critical in fostering the political will necessary to reverse biodiversity declines worldwide. I analyzed the advocacy of leading eNGOs on Twitter by scraping account timelines, screening content for advocacy relating to biodiversity threats and, for prevalent threats, further screening content for positive and negative emotional language with a sentiment lexicon. Twitter advocacy was dominated by the major threats of climate change and overexploitation and the minor threat of plastic pollution. The major threats of agriculture, urbanization, invasions, and pollution were rarely addressed. Content relating to overexploitation and plastic pollution was more socially contagious than other content. Increasing emotional negativity further increased social contagion, whereas increasing emotional positivity did not. Scientists, policy makers, and eNGOs should consider how narrowly focused advocacy on platforms like Twitter will contribute to effective global biodiversity conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Barrios-O'Neill
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Penryn, Cornwall, TR10 9EZ, U.K
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13
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Newson M, Buhrmester M, Whitehouse H. United in defeat: shared suffering and group bonding among football fans. MANAGING SPORT AND LEISURE 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/23750472.2020.1866650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Martha Newson
- Centre for the Study of Social Cohesion (CSSC), University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- School of Anthropology and Conservation, University of Kent, Canterbury, UK
| | - Michael Buhrmester
- Centre for the Study of Social Cohesion (CSSC), University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Harvey Whitehouse
- Centre for the Study of Social Cohesion (CSSC), University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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Tasuji T, Reese E, van Mulukom V, Whitehouse H. Band of mothers: Childbirth as a female bonding experience. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0240175. [PMID: 33085666 PMCID: PMC7577500 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0240175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2020] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Does the experience of childbirth create social bonds among first-time mothers? Previous research suggests that sharing emotionally intense or painful experiences with others leads to “identity fusion,” a visceral feeling of oneness with a group that predicts strong forms of prosocial action and self-sacrifice for other group members. This study compared identity fusion with other mothers during pregnancy versus after childbirth in a sample of 164 U.S. women. Eighty-nine mothers in our sample were pregnant with their firstborn, and 75 mothers had given birth to their firstborn up to 6 months prior to the time of data collection. Results demonstrated that identity fusion with other mothers was higher for postpartum mothers than for antenatal mothers. As predicted, among postpartum mothers, those who thought that their childbirth was more painful than a typical childbirth experience reported greater identity fusion with mothers who reported having had a very difficult birth. Postpartum mothers’ ruminative thought about the birth mediated the association between level of dysphoria and identity fusion, and identity fusion moderated the association between postpartum mothers’ ruminative and reflective thought about the birth and their posttraumatic growth in complex ways. These findings provide evidence that perceived sharedness of the childbirth experience and thoughts about the birth are important to the process of identity fusion with other mothers, and highlight the importance of post-event processing for psychological health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tara Tasuji
- Centre for the Study of Social Cohesion, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (TT); (ER)
| | - Elaine Reese
- Department of Psychology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- * E-mail: (TT); (ER)
| | - Valerie van Mulukom
- Centre for the Study of Social Cohesion, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Centre for Trust, Peace and Social Relations, Coventry University, Coventry, United Kingdom
| | - Harvey Whitehouse
- Centre for the Study of Social Cohesion, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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15
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Buhrmester MD, Zeitlyn D, Whitehouse H. Ritual, fusion, and conflict: The roots of agro-pastoral violence in rural Cameroon. GROUP PROCESSES & INTERGROUP RELATIONS 2020. [DOI: 10.1177/1368430220959705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Herder–farmer conflicts in West Africa have caused thousands of deaths in recent years. Many conflicts are triggered by localized events that rapidly spiral out of control. What leads specific interpersonal conflicts to scale up into intergroup violence? We propose that such conflicts are rooted in identity and ritual dynamics. We present evidence that participants in Mambila traditions of masquerade initiation in Cameroon report especially strong identity fusion, a visceral sense of oneness with the ingroup. Results showed that men strongly fused to their ethnic ingroup were especially willing to fight and die for it. Overall, our findings provide evidence that when ordinary conflicts develop between groups that differ sharply on ethnic and religious lines, there is grave risk that fused persons will escalate violence. Understanding these processes may inform future development of new strategies to prevent or ameliorate intergroup conflicts of this kind.
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Montgomery RA, Carr M, Booher CR, Pointer AM, Mitchell BM, Smith N, Calnan K, Montgomery GM, Ogada M, Kramer DB. Characteristics that make trophy hunting of giant pandas inconceivable. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2020; 34:915-924. [PMID: 31916271 PMCID: PMC7522670 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2019] [Revised: 12/10/2019] [Accepted: 01/01/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
In November 1928, Theodore Jr. and Kermit Roosevelt led an expedition to China with the expressed purpose of being the first Westerners to kill the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca). The expedition lasted 8 months and resulted in the brothers shooting a giant panda in the mountains of Sichuan Province. Given the concurrent attention in the popular press describing this celebrated expedition, the giant panda was poised to be trophy hunted much like other large mammals around the world. Today, however, the killing of giant pandas, even for the generation of conservation revenue, is unthinkable for reasons related to the species itself and the context, in time and space, in which the species was popularized in the West. We found that the giant panda's status as a conservation symbol, exceptional charisma and gentle disposition, rarity, value as a nonconsumptive ecotourism attraction, and endemism are integral to the explanation of why the species is not trophy hunted. We compared these intrinsic and extrinsic characteristics with 20 of the most common trophy-hunted mammals to determine whether the principles applying to giant pandas are generalizable to other species. Although certain characteristics of the 20 trophy-hunted mammals aligned with the giant panda, many did not. Charisma, economic value, and endemism, in particular, were comparatively unique to the giant panda. Our analysis suggests that, at present, exceptional characteristics may be necessary for certain mammals to be excepted from trophy hunting. However, because discourse relating to the role of trophy hunting in supporting conservation outcomes is dynamic in both science and society, we suspect these valuations will also change in future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert A. Montgomery
- Department of Fisheries and WildlifeMichigan State University480 Wilson Road, 13 Natural Resources BuildingEast LansingMI48824U.S.A.
| | - Madeline Carr
- Department of Fisheries and WildlifeMichigan State University480 Wilson Road, 13 Natural Resources BuildingEast LansingMI48824U.S.A.
| | - Charlie R. Booher
- Department of Fisheries and WildlifeMichigan State University480 Wilson Road, 13 Natural Resources BuildingEast LansingMI48824U.S.A.
- College of Social SciencesMichigan State University509 E. Circle Drive, Berkey HallEast LansingMI48824U.S.A.
| | - Abigail M. Pointer
- Department of Fisheries and WildlifeMichigan State University480 Wilson Road, 13 Natural Resources BuildingEast LansingMI48824U.S.A.
| | - Brendan M. Mitchell
- Department of Fisheries and WildlifeMichigan State University480 Wilson Road, 13 Natural Resources BuildingEast LansingMI48824U.S.A.
| | - Natalie Smith
- James Madison CollegeMichigan State University842 Chestnut Rd Room S369LEast LansingMI48825U.S.A.
| | - Keegan Calnan
- Department of Fisheries and WildlifeMichigan State University480 Wilson Road, 13 Natural Resources BuildingEast LansingMI48824U.S.A.
| | - Georgina M. Montgomery
- Lyman Briggs CollegeMichigan State University919 E Shaw LnEast LansingMI48825U.S.A.
- Department of HistoryMichigan State University506 E. Circle DrEast LansingMI48824U.S.A.
| | - Mordecai Ogada
- Department of HistoryMichigan State University506 E. Circle DrEast LansingMI48824U.S.A.
- Conservation Solutions AfrikaMuthaiga Estate P.O. Box 880–10400NanyukiKenya
| | - Daniel B. Kramer
- Department of Fisheries and WildlifeMichigan State University480 Wilson Road, 13 Natural Resources BuildingEast LansingMI48824U.S.A.
- James Madison CollegeMichigan State University842 Chestnut Rd Room S369LEast LansingMI48825U.S.A.
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Fusión de identidad: una revisión sistemática. ACTA COLOMBIANA DE PSICOLOGIA 2020. [DOI: 10.14718/acp.2020.23.2.15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022] Open
Abstract
El objetivo de la presente investigación fue realizar una revisión sistemática de los estudios empíricos que han reportado el uso de la teoría de fusión de identidad. Para esto, la revisión siguió los lineamientos y recomendaciones de la declaración PRISMA. Las bases de datos consultadas fueron Web of Science, Scopus, ProQuest, ScienceDirect, Willey Online Library, EBSCO y JSTORE. En total, se revisaron 52 estudios empíricos, en español y en inglés, publicados entre los años 2009 y 2018, que cumplían con los criterios de selección. La mayoría de los estudios dan evidencia de que la fusión de identidad es un fuerte predictor de conductas extremas de sacrificio por el grupo, y también, se ha asociado generalmente a variables como la identificación con el grupo, el compromiso grupal, el apoyo social percibido, la lealtad incluso en condiciones de ostracismo, los sentimientos, afectos y emociones hacia el grupo, y la percepción de parentesco, entre otras. Al final se discuten sus implicaciones y limitaciones.
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Griffin AS, Callen A, Klop-Toker K, Scanlon RJ, Hayward MW. Compassionate Conservation Clashes With Conservation Biology: Should Empathy, Compassion, and Deontological Moral Principles Drive Conservation Practice? Front Psychol 2020; 11:1139. [PMID: 32536896 PMCID: PMC7269110 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
“Compassionate Conservation” is an emerging movement within conservation science that is gaining attention through its promotion of “ethical” conservation practices that place empathy and compassion and the moral principles of “first, do no harm” and “individuals matter” at the forefront of conservation practice. We have articulated elsewhere how Compassionate Conservation, if adopted, could be more harmful for native biodiversity than any other conservation action implemented thus far, while also causing more net harm to individuals than it aims to stop. Here, we examine whether empathy, compassion and inflexible adherence to moral principles form a solid basis upon which to meet the goals of conservation biology as specified by pioneers in the discipline. Specifically, we examine a large empirical literature demonstrating that empathy is subject to significant biases and that inflexible adherence to moral rules can result in a “do nothing” approach. In light of this literature, we argue that our emotional systems have not evolved to provide a reliable basis for making decisions as to how best to ensure the long-term persistence of our planet. Consequently, in its most radical form, the Compassionate Conservation philosophy should not be enshrined as a legalized guiding principle for conservation action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea S Griffin
- Animal Behaviour and Cognition Lab, School of Psychology, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.,Conservation Biology Research Group, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
| | - Alex Callen
- Conservation Biology Research Group, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
| | - Kaya Klop-Toker
- Conservation Biology Research Group, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
| | - Robert J Scanlon
- Conservation Biology Research Group, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
| | - Matt W Hayward
- Conservation Biology Research Group, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
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Gómez Á, Chinchilla J, Vázquez A, López‐Rodríguez L, Paredes B, Martínez M. Recent advances, misconceptions, untested assumptions, and future research agenda for identity fusion theory. SOCIAL AND PERSONALITY PSYCHOLOGY COMPASS 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/spc3.12531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ángel Gómez
- ARTIS International St. Michaels Maryland USA
- Faculty of Psychology, Social and Organizational Psychology Department, Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia Madrid Spain
| | - Juana Chinchilla
- Faculty of Psychology, Social and Organizational Psychology Department, Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia Madrid Spain
| | - Alexandra Vázquez
- ARTIS International St. Michaels Maryland USA
- Faculty of Psychology, Social and Organizational Psychology Department, Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia Madrid Spain
| | - Lucía López‐Rodríguez
- ARTIS International St. Michaels Maryland USA
- Psychology Department, Universidad de Almería Almería Spain
| | - Borja Paredes
- Faculty of Sciences of Information, Theory and Analisys of Comunication Department, Universidad Complutense de Madrid Madrid Spain
| | - Mercedes Martínez
- Faculty of Psychology, Social and Organizational Psychology Department, Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia Madrid Spain
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20
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Abstract
Recent theoretical advances in anthropology and group psychology suggest that sharing self-defining experiences creates identity fusion, a powerful form of social glue motivating prosocial action. Here, we present results of in-depth interviews with a sample of 31 inmates of an Australian prison and explore the theoretical implications of this work for interventions designed to reduce recidivism amongst ex-off enders. Our approach focusses on the implications of fusion theory both for desistance amongst released prisoners and for reinclusion into the community. We consider various ways in which existing interventions could be enhanced by applying this new theoretical knowledge and harnessing the bonding power of shared experience. We also point to features of current practice throughout the criminal justice system that encourage the adoption of inauthentic identities and thereby obstruct the potential for fusion to energise and embolden efforts at reform.
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Smith LGE, Blackwood L, Thomas EF. The Need to Refocus on the Group as the Site of Radicalization. PERSPECTIVES ON PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE 2020; 15:327-352. [PMID: 31891529 DOI: 10.1177/1745691619885870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The past decade has witnessed burgeoning efforts among governments to prevent people from developing a commitment to violent extremism (conceived of as a process of radicalization). These interventions acknowledge the importance of group processes yet in practice primarily focus on the idiosyncratic personal vulnerabilities that lead people to engage in violence. This conceptualization is problematic because it disconnects the individual from the group and fails to adequately address the role of group processes in radicalization. To address this shortcoming, we propose a genuinely social psychological account of radicalization as an alternative. We draw on recent developments in theory and research in psychological science to suggest that radicalization is fundamentally a group socialization process through which people develop identification with a set of norms-that may be violent or nonviolent-through situated social interactions that leverage their shared perceptions and experiences. Our alternative provides a way of understanding shifts toward violent extremism that are caused by both the content (focal topics) and process of social interactions. This means that people's radicalization to violence is inseparable from the social context in which their social interactions take place.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Emma F Thomas
- College of Education, Psychology and Social Work, Flinders University
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Büssing AG, Thielking A, Menzel S. Can a Like Save the Planet? Comparing Antecedents of and Correlations Between Environmental Liking on Social Media, Money Donation, and Volunteering. Front Psychol 2019; 10:1989. [PMID: 31555178 PMCID: PMC6722222 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2019] [Accepted: 08/14/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Due to the societal dissemination of digital technology, people are increasingly experiencing environmental topics through digital media channels such as social networks. Several researchers therefore have proposed these channels as a possibility to strengthen sustainable development based on their cost-efficient nature. But while prior studies have investigated isolated factors for understanding environmental social media behavior, there is still scarce understanding of the relevant underlying motivational factors and possible connections with more traditional environmental behaviors. Therefore, the present study applied the established socio-psychological model of goal-directed behavior and compared the desires for liking as a fundamental form of digital social media behavior with the desires for two traditional environmental behaviors (money donation and volunteering) in a cross-sectional research design. Within the biodiversity conservation case of the Andean bear (Tremarctos ornatus) in Ecuador, we compared the antecedents for the desires for the corresponding environmental behaviors (RQ1) as well as their connections between each other (RQ2). Within a sample of 407 Ecuadorian students (Mage = 20.94 years, SD = 2.25, 61.2% female), we found the marginal effect of perceived behavioral control on the desires for liking on social media as the main difference concerning the antecedents of the behaviors because money donation and volunteering largely depended on personal resources such as time or money. Furthermore, gender emerged as the second main difference between the behaviors due to it only being predictive for the liking motivation. Enjoyment was the only variable that coherently predicted all three behaviors. Finally, desires for liking on social media predicted both other behaviors in robust regression analyses, but were only predictive for volunteering in corresponding path models. The results illustrate how cost-efficient digital environmental behaviors such as liking may be suitable for sparking low-level environmental action, which may entail more pronounced forms of environmental activism, at least when they involve feasible personal costs. Overall, the findings are in line with prior research regarding the less demanding nature of liking, but further elaborate on the importance of gender for digital environmental behavior and correlates between digital and classical environmental behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Georg Büssing
- Didactics of Biology, Department of Biology/Chemistry, Osnabrück University, Osnabrück, Germany
| | - Annelene Thielking
- Didactics of Biology, Department of Biology/Chemistry, Osnabrück University, Osnabrück, Germany
| | - Susanne Menzel
- Didactics of Biology, Department of Biology/Chemistry, Osnabrück University, Osnabrück, Germany
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Abstract
A comprehensive explanation of extreme self-sacrifice would ideally clarify not only the proximate mechanisms leading to this behaviour, but also its developmental origins, its functions (if any), and its history. The theoretical framework set out in my target article has something to say about all of these dimensions, and many of the criticisms raised in the commentaries can therefore be addressed under those four main headings. In my response, I also discuss a set of proposals for further extending the framework. Finally, I conclude by distilling from the discussion a host of novel questions requiring further investigation.
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