The Social Identity Model of Collective Action at Age 10: A potential identity crisis Seminar

The Social Identity Model of Collective Action (SIMCA; Van Zomeren, Postmes & Spears, 2008) was derived from a meta-analysis of the social-psychological literature that identified three core motivations for individuals to engage in collective action to achieve social change --- their group identification, their experience of injustice/anger, and their efficacy beliefs. Empirically, this model has fared relatively well among disadvantaged groups in traditional intergroup contexts in which collective action was likely to occur or already ongoing. Although fairly early at age 10, it seems however that it is time for the SIMCA's first identity crisis. In my presentation I will provide an overview of recent research that shows that change is indeed a-coming --- not just in terms of the model (e.g., additional predictors and processes) and the contexts to which it applies (e.g., structural, cultural, and political), but even in its very name and essence. I discuss key implications of this identity crisis for the psychology and practice of collective action to achieve social change.

Speaker information

Dr Martijn van Zomeren , University of Groningen. Dr van Zomeren's theoretical and research interests focus on the psychology of collective action, and more generally the psychology of motivation. Both include a broad array of factors, ranging from emotion and efficacy to identity and morality. Together with his collaborators, he has developed the dynamic dual pathway model of coping with collective disadvantage (e.g., Van Zomeren et al., 2004, JPSP; Van Zomeren, Leach, & Spears, 2012), and the Social Identity Model of Collective Action (Van Zomeren et al., 2008, Psych Bull; Van Zomeren, in press). Both models develop different pathways to increase individuals' participation in collective action, but from different meta-theoretical angles (with a coping and social identity perspective, respectively).