Divided groups need leadership: A study of the effectiveness of collective identity,dual identity,and intergroup relational identity rhetoric |
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| Authors: | Christine Kershaw David E. Rast III Michael A. Hogg Daan van Knippenberg |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Psychology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada;2. Department of Psychology, Claremont Graduate University, Claremont, CA, USA;3. Lebow College of Business, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA |
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| Abstract: | Reducing intergroup conflict is a significant leadership challenge. Leaders can alleviate conflict by promoting a collective, dual, or intergroup relational identity, but they should avoid provoking subgroup identity distinctiveness threat. Drawing on intergroup leadership theory, we conducted an experiment (N = 184) examining evaluations of a leader who promoted a dual, collective, or intergroup relational identity under low or high subgroup identity distinctiveness threat. We hypothesized that identity distinctiveness threat would improve evaluations of a leader promoting an intergroup relational identity, and worsen evaluations of a leader promoting a collective identity. Although a leader promoting a dual identity is typically preferred to one promoting a collective identity, we expected a leader promoting dual identity to receive worse evaluations than a leader promoting an intergroup relational identity. These hypotheses were supported, providing additional support for intergroup leadership theory and demonstrating the utility of employing intergroup relational identity rhetoric. |
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