Identity based decision making
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This document summarizes a study on how social identity influences behavior. In the first part, Manchester United supporters were more likely to help a runner who had tripped if they were wearing a Manchester United shirt, compared to a Liverpool shirt or plain shirt. In the second part, when primed to think of their identity as football fans rather than a specific team, participants were equally likely to help a runner wearing any football shirt. The study shows that social identity can be situationally primed and affects how helpful people are toward in-group or out-group members.
Identity based decision making
- 1. Identity based decision making How our construal of group identity influences our behaviour
- 2. In the first condition of this experiment, participants (Manchester United supporters) were asked to fill out questionnaires about their interest in Manchester United and the degree to which they identified as being a fan
- 3. Please simply fill out your answers to the questions honestly I love Man Utd – I just wish Scholesy was still playing!
- 4. Participants were then asked to walk across campus to another room where they would watch a video about football teams Along the way an accident was staged in which a runner tripped and fell The runner was either wearing a Manchester United shirt, a Liverpool football shirt or a plain t-shirt
- 5. I really love Man U but I don’t think Van Gaal’s up to the job Turn left out the door and head straight across the road
- 7. Oh a fellow Man Utd supporter
- 8. Are you ok? Can I help?
- 9. I’m ok, thank you!
- 10. Aha - a Liverpool supporter… serves him right!
- 11. I really do love Man U…
- 12. Participants were quicker and more likely to help the runner if they were wearing a Manchester United shirt than if they were wearing a Liverpool shirt or a plain t-shirt
- 13. In the second condition of this experiment, participants (still Manchester United supporters) were asked to fill out questionnaires about their interest in football and what they shared with other football fans
- 14. Please simply fill out your answers to the questions honestly I love football – the camaraderie is great!
- 15. Participants were again asked to walk across campus to another room where they would watch a video about football teams Along the way they passed the same staged accident as in the first study Again, the runner was either wearing a Manchester United shirt, a Liverpool shirt or a plain t-shirt
- 16. I really love football… Turn left out the door and head straight across the road
- 18. Oh dear! A fellow football supporter
- 19. Are you ok? Can I help?
- 20. Thank you!
- 21. Are you ok? Can I help?
- 22. I love football…
- 23. In this condition, participants were as likely to help the runner if they were wearing a Manchester United shirt or a Liverpool shirt They remained less likely to help the runner in a plain t-shirt
- 24. Conclusions 1. Our social identity is malleable – we can be primed to think of ourselves as part of different groups 2. The degree to which we identify with other people at a moment in time, affects our behaviour towards them
- 25. Reference Identity and Emergency Intervention: How Social Group Membership and Inclusiveness of Group Boundaries Shape Helping Behaviour Personal and Social Psychology Bulletin 2005, volume 31 by Mark Levine, Amy Prosser, David Evans and Stephen Reicher