How risk perception shapes collective action intentions in repressive contexts : a study of Egyptian activists during the 2013 post-coup uprising
Date
01/12/2016Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Social psychological research has overlooked collective action in repressive contexts, where activists face substantial personal risks. This paper examines the social psychological processes motivating activists to engage in collective action in risky contexts. We investigate the idea that perceived risks due to government sanctions can galvanize action through fuelling anger, shaping efficacy beliefs, and increasing identification with the movement. We also argue that anger, efficacy and identification motivate action intentions directly and indirectly through reducing the personal importance activists attach to these risks. We tested our hypotheses within a sample of Egyptian activists (N = 146) from two protest movements who protested against Morsi’s government and the military interventions, respectively, during the 2013 anti-Coup uprising. In line with our hypotheses, the perceived likelihood of risks was positively associated with anger and identity consolidation efficacy, and positively predicted action intentions indirectly through these variables. Risk was also associated with increased political efficacy, but only among anti-military protesters. Anger and political efficacy predicted action intentions directly and indirectly through reduced risk importance. Results also highlighted differential significance of emotional and instrumental motives for the two protest movements. We discuss directions for future research on the motivators of collective action in repressive contexts.
Citation
Ayanian , A H & Tausch , N 2016 , ' How risk perception shapes collective action intentions in repressive contexts : a study of Egyptian activists during the 2013 post-coup uprising ' , British Journal of Social Psychology , vol. 55 , no. 4 , pp. 700-721 . https://doi.org/10.1111/bjso.12164
Publication
British Journal of Social Psychology
Status
Peer reviewed
ISSN
0144-6665Type
Journal article
Rights
© 2016 The British Psychological Society. This work is made available online in accordance with the publisher’s policies. This is the author created, accepted version manuscript following peer review and may differ slightly from the final published version. The final published version of this work is available at https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/bjso.12164
Description
This research was conducted while Arin Hovhannes Ayanian was a PhD candidate at the University of St Andrews, on a full scholarship from the School of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of St Andrews, Scotland.Collections
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