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Winning at any cost: Identity fusion, group essence, and maximizing ingroup advantage

Buhrmester, Michael D, Newson, Martha, Vázquez, Alexandra, Hattori, Wallisen Tadashi, Whitehouse, Harvey (2018) Winning at any cost: Identity fusion, group essence, and maximizing ingroup advantage. Self and Identity, 17 (5). pp. 500-516. ISSN 1529-8868. E-ISSN 1529-8876. (doi:10.1080/15298868.2018.1452788) (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:84188)

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https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15298868.2018.1452788

Abstract

From verbal abuse to physical intimidation of opponents, some ingroup members seek to maximize their group’s competitive edge regardless of personal repercussions. What motivates such extreme commitment? Based on identity fusion theory, we argue that strongly fused persons seek ingroup victory at any cost when they believe that a competition’s outcome affects the group’s essence. Two studies, conducted across four countries and in two sports contexts, revealed that fused persons who believed one’s national sport constituted part of the nation’s essence were especially likely to maximize their ingroup’s advantage over the outgroup, even when doing so came at a personal cost and harmed the outgroup. Together, our findings shed new light on the motives of fused persons in intergroup conflict.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1080/15298868.2018.1452788
Uncontrolled keywords: Identity fusion, intergroup conflict, social identity, outgroup hostility
Subjects: G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GN Anthropology
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Human and Social Sciences > School of Anthropology and Conservation
Depositing User: Martha Newson
Date Deposited: 15 Nov 2020 14:59 UTC
Last Modified: 04 Mar 2024 16:53 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/84188 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Newson, Martha.

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