Identification with all humanity is an important construct for solving global issues but is often hard to achieve. Based on Optimal Distinctiveness Theory, it was predicted that exposure to a dual...Show moreIdentification with all humanity is an important construct for solving global issues but is often hard to achieve. Based on Optimal Distinctiveness Theory, it was predicted that exposure to a dual identity (comprising the most abstract social category: humanity in combination with another social category) could lead to a stronger identification with all humanity. With a dual identity, the excessive inclusiveness of humanity is compensated by the distinctiveness of a less inclusive social identity. The research started with a pre-measurement, then people were exposed to a dual identity in which humanity was combined with a social category (the neighborhood, city/village, the Netherlands, or Europe). Distinctiveness, inclusiveness, the degree of identification with the social category, and harmony with humanity were measured. After this manipulation, people completed the IWAH questionnaire, and their attitude towards global problems was measured. The results showed no significant difference between the experimental conditions and the control condition on identification with all humanity after the exposure to dual identity. However, people exposed to very inclusive social categories created more identification with all humanity and experienced more harmony than people in the less inclusive social category conditions. A relationship was found between identification with all humanity and a positive attitude towards solving global problems. Results are discussed in terms of a successful but reversed effect of dual identity. Theoretical and methodological reasons for the reversed effect are discussed and suggestions for further research are given.Show less
Migration, the Covid-19 pandemic, and terrorism are some of the global challenges that have great impact and call for worldwide collaboration to address them. Identification with all of humanity ...Show moreMigration, the Covid-19 pandemic, and terrorism are some of the global challenges that have great impact and call for worldwide collaboration to address them. Identification with all of humanity (IWAH) could be a promising remedy for the global challenges we face. However, while we may all own the identity ‘human being’, strongly identifying with this category is not self-evident. This study aimed to create more knowledge on whether ‘identification with all humanity’ (IWAH) can be stimulated, while taking into account the optimal distinctiveness theory (Brewer, 1991). The current study examined the possibility of using dual identities, consisting of the human category and more local social categories, to stimulate IWAH, by balancing the need for inclusiveness and distinctiveness. Participants were randomly allocated to one of four conditions varying in the level of abstractness in addition to one control condition. In the four dual identity conditions both the social category ‘humanity’ as one of the local categories (e.g., neighborhood, city/village, Dutch, and European) were made salient. The results showed that a dual identity did not directly influence IWAH, but did show that harmony between both identities did positively correlate with IWAH, namely when the subgroup category had a more abstract character. Furthermore, the results showed that higher levels of IWAH were related to more prosocial behavior.Show less
People who construe their power as a responsibility are often less likely to take risks than people who construe their power as an opportunity. The main objective of this research was to explore...Show morePeople who construe their power as a responsibility are often less likely to take risks than people who construe their power as an opportunity. The main objective of this research was to explore the connection between power construal and risk-taking and the role of regulatory focus. Regulatory focus theory distinguishes between a promotion focus and a prevention focus. Based on former research, we predicted that people who perceive their power more as responsibility and have a prevention focus take less risk. People who perceive their power more as opportunity and a promotion focus will take more risks. After dividing the sample (N=207) over power as responsibility and power as opportunity conditions, to manipulate power construal, tested the proposed hypotheses. There were no significant main effects. However, we found a negative significant effect of prevention focus on risk-taking. Also, while conducting exploratory research, we found an negative significant effect of prevention focus on financial risk specifically. In view of methodological improvements, further research is needed to find evidence for the proposed hypotheses and use the obtained results e.g. to develop interventions.Show less
