Multiple Group Memberships, Collective Action Intentions and Attitudes towards Outgroups

Belonging to multiple groups, especially non-conflicting ones, can be related to many positive outcomes – e.g. multiple identities may provide a pathway to gain social support and positively influence individuals’ well-being (Walter et al., 2015). The salience of multiple group memberships also impacts on between-groups relations and thus potentially plays an important role in improving them and reducing group stereotypes and fostering willingness to undertake collective actions. In our studies 1 & 2 we investigated the relationship between multiple group memberships, collective action intentions and attitudes towards outgroups. In study 1, using results obtained from a sample of 99 high schools students we showed that multiple group memberships measured with Exeter Identity Transition Scale (EXITS; see Haslam et al., 2008) was associated with higher sensitivity to gender discrimination and collective action intentions targeting gender pay gap (the latter effect mediated by group efficacy). In Study 2 (n=189, students of University of Gdansk) multiple group memberships was associated with more positive attitudes towards outgroup such as migrants. These results suggest that possessing multiple social identities is associated with both collective action intentions to solve social problems such as gender pay gap and positive attitudes towards outgroups.