An individual faced with intergroup conflict must choose from a vast array of possible actions, ranging from grumbling among ingroup friends to voting and demonstrating to rioting and revolution. The present thesis proposes a model of decision-making in intergroup contexts oriented towards understanding how group members choose among these behavioural alternatives. Intergroup decisions are conceptualized as rationally shaped by perceptions of the benefits and costs associated with the action (expectancy-value processes). In intergroup contexts, group-level costs and benefits may play a critical role in individuals' decision-making. Perception of the dynamic between ingroup and outgroup norms is thought to be a key determinant of the group-level benefits and costs associated with individualistic or collective actions. Four studies explore the predictive value of this model for understanding decision-making in the context of English-French conflict in Quebec. Studies 1 and 2 provide evidence that group-level costs and benefits influence individuals' decision-making, in intergroup contexts. Contrary to the predictions of individualistic models of decision-making such as the theory of planned behaviour (Ajzen, 1985), the individual level of analysis was not observed to mediate the group level of analysis. Moreover, contrary to recent social identity theorizing (Kelly, 1993; Simon et al., 1998), perceived group-level costs and benefits were implicated in the relationship between social identity and intentions to engage in collective action. Studies 3 and 4 provide evidence that outgroup and ingroup norms may interact to influence decision-making. Thus, contrary to the referent informational influence model (Terry & Hogg, 1996; Turner, 1991), ingroup norms alone did not determine group members' actions. Moreover, Study 4 provides evidence that the dynamic between ingroup and outgroup norms influences evaluations of the costs and benefits of intergroup behaviours, both
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:QMM.38076 |
| Date | January 2001 |
| Creators | Louis, Winnifred R. |
| Contributors | Taylor, Donald M. (advisor) |
| Publisher | McGill University |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Coverage | Doctor of Philosophy (Department of Psychology.) |
| Rights | All items in eScholarship@McGill are protected by copyright with all rights reserved unless otherwise indicated. |
| Relation | alephsysno: 001846202, proquestno: NQ75654, Theses scanned by UMI/ProQuest. |
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