Psychologist Jay Van Bavel discusses his book 'The Power of Us' exploring the dynamics of shared social identities, including the influence of group dynamics, social influence, identity on food preferences, and extreme behaviors influenced by online content.
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Quick takeaways
Our sense of self is deeply influenced by the groups we identify with, leading to positive feelings, attention, and prioritization of well-being for fellow group members.
Our sense of self is not fixed and can shift between different aspects of our identity, influencing our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
The activation of a specific identity significantly influences resource allocation behaviors, with individuals prioritizing gains for the entire group when their shared identity is activated.
Identity serves as a heuristic that signals who to trust, leading to polarization and biased information processing.
Deep dives
Group Identities Drive Behavior
Our sense of self is deeply influenced by the groups we identify with. When we identify with a group, we feel positive towards other group members, pay more attention to them, and prioritize their well-being. This sense of in-group love is a fundamental motivation that drives our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. However, this doesn't mean we necessarily hate out-group members. The motivation to possess a meaningful and valuable identity leads us to allocate resources to our in-group, ensuring our identity is positive and distinct. While this group identity can activate selfish tendencies, it doesn't make us inherently discriminatory. Conflict over resources and moral violations are needed to generate disdain for out-group members.
Shifting Self-Perceptions
Our sense of self is not fixed and can move between different aspects of our identity. Depending on the salience of a particular identity in a given moment, our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors align with that identity. For example, our perception of 'I' can shift to 'we,' 'me' to 'us,' and 'mine' to 'our,' depending on the activated identity. This malleability of our self-perceptions is evident in studies where activating a shared identity transforms individuals. Even self-interested individuals become group-oriented when a shared identity is activated, leading them to prioritize the gains of the entire group and make sacrifices for its benefit.
Impact of Activated Identity on Resource Allocation
Research demonstrates that the activation of a specific identity can significantly influence resource allocation behaviors. In one study, individuals with pro-self motivations, who tend to maximize personal gains, exhibited more selfish resource allocation when thinking of themselves solely. However, when encouraged to think of themselves as members of a group, their resource allocation shifted toward maximizing gains for the entire group. This finding showcases how activated identities shape motivations and ultimately guide behavior, leading individuals to allocate resources differently based on the salient identity.
Banker Identity and Dishonesty
An intriguing study explored the behavior of bankers and demonstrated the impact of their identity on honesty. When bankers were primed to think of themselves through the lens of their banker identity, they were more likely to exhibit dishonest behavior. This suggests that the norms and values associated with the banker identity influenced their ethical decision-making. However, when not activated, bankers displayed similar levels of honesty as others. This study highlights the influence of identity on behavior, emphasizing the role of group norms and identities in shaping individual actions.
The Influence of Identity on Behavior
Identity plays a significant role in guiding people's behavior and actions. Individuals often have different identities associated with various contexts, such as work, home, or political affiliations. These identities activate different norms and guide individuals to act in certain ways. This is not hypocrisy but rather a result of the different identities people possess. For example, a study conducted on Southerners in the United States found that when prompted to think about their Southern identity, they developed a stronger preference for traditional Southern foods. This highlights how identity influences our choices and behaviors.
Identity as a Heuristic for Trust
Identity also serves as a heuristic that signals who we can trust. People tend to rely on their in-group identities to determine who to believe or listen to. This can lead to polarization and biased information processing. For instance, in the case of climate change, research has shown that individuals tend to be more receptive to information coming from sources aligned with their in-group identity. This heuristic can lead to a disregard for information that comes from out-group sources and can contribute to polarization and the rejection of factual information.
The Role of Social Media and Populism
The rise of social media has further exacerbated polarization. Algorithms and echo chambers created by platforms like Twitter and Facebook can further polarize individuals by promoting content that aligns with their existing beliefs and identities. Additionally, the rise of populism in many countries has contributed to polarization. Anti-elite and anti-scientific attitudes have become more prevalent, creating a divide between those who trust established institutions and those who reject them. Inequality and economic factors also play a role in driving polarization in some societies.
Prescriptive Advice: Addressing Polarization
Addressing polarization requires careful consideration and strategies that mitigate the influence of identity on behavior. One approach is to provide information from trusted, non-partisan sources that are not directly associated with a particular identity group. This can help reduce the influence of identity as a heuristic for trust and encourage critical thinking and open-mindedness. It is also important to create spaces for dialogue and interaction between individuals from different identity groups, fostering genuine conversation and understanding. By emphasizing shared values and common goals, it is possible to bridge the divide and promote cooperation and social harmony.
In this episode, we sit down with psychologist Jay Van Bavel to discuss his new book, The Power of Us, an exploration of "the dynamics of shared, social identities. What causes people to develop social identities? What happens to people when they define themselves in terms of group memberships? Under what conditions does the human proclivity to divide the world into “us” and “them” produce toxic conflict and devastating discrimination? And how can shared identities instead be harnessed to improve performance, increase cooperation, and promote social harmony?"
