Hanson, Kristin, O'Dwyer, Emma ORCID: 0000-0003-1226-0515 and Lyons, Evanthia (2021) The national divide: a social representations approach to US ideological identity. European Journal of Social Psychology, 51 (4-5). pp. 833-846. ISSN 0046-2772 (Print), 1099-0992 (Online) (doi:https://doi.org/10.1002/ejsp.2791)

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Abstract

Extending research on US ideological identity as a social identity, this study employs a social representations approach to capture identity meaning as a form of national attachment. Across two studies (n = 723), we demonstrate that two novel organizing principles of US ideological identity—national reverence (veneration of the nation in the abstract, its symbols, sacred texts, and founding fathers) and individual support (a focus on the progress of individuals and the change required to bring about equality)—significantly predicted ideological self-categorization, 2016 presidential voting, and affective political polarization over and above right-wing authoritarianism and social dominance orientation. The results suggest an integration of national and conservative identities that places US national identity in opposition to liberal identity and to progress and equality, pointing to the divisive employment of national identity in the current political environment.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	identity meaning; national identity; political behaviour; political identity; social identity; social representations
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology H Social Sciences > HM Sociology J Political Science > JK Political institutions (United States)
Faculty / School / Research Centre / Research Group:	Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences > School of Human Sciences (HUM) Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences > Institute for Lifecourse Development Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences > Institute for Lifecourse Development > Centre for Inequalities
Last Modified:	12 May 2022 10:23
URI:	http://gala.gre.ac.uk/id/eprint/36076

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