Explaining radical group behavior: Developing emotion and efficacy routes to normative and nonnormative collective action.

• DOI: 10.1037/a0022728
• Publication Date: 2011-04-18T19:42:12Z
• Authors: Nicole Tausch; Julia C. Becker; Russell Spears; Oliver Christ; Rim Saab; Purnima Singh; Roomana N. Siddiqui
• Keywords: Contempt; Collective Action; Normative social influence; Injustice; Ingroups and outgroups

A recent model of collective action distinguishes two distinct pathways; an emotional pathway whereby anger in response to injustice motivates action, and efficacy where the belief that issues can be solved collectively increases likelihood group members take (van Zomeren, Spears, Fischer, & Leach, 2004).Research supporting this has, however, focused entirely on relatively normative actions such as participating demonstrations.The authors argue relations between emotions, differ for more extreme, non-normative propose (1) are often driven by a sense low (2) contempt, which, unlike anger, entails psychological distancing lack reconciliatory intentions, predicts action.These ideas tested three survey studies examining student protests against tuition fees Germany (N = 332), Indian Muslims' support relation ingroup disadvantage 156), British responses foreign policy 466).Results were generally supportive predictions indicated (a) was strongly related but overall unrelated or less action; (b) contempt either negatively significantly positively predicted nonnormative (c) action.The implications these findings understanding dealing with extreme intergroup phenomena terrorism discussed.