Diehard football fans identify with their favorite club, wear the club’s colors, and spare no expenses to follow their team to wherever it might be playing. It is a harmless hobby as long as the fans do not take their in-group identity too far, and do not become violent towards the funs of the opposite team, as it happened in Heysel Stadium, in Brussels, in 1985. The phenomenon of in-group identity occurs not only in sports, but in any other groups and organizations and most notably in whole nations. Professor Aleksandra Cisłak-Wójcik from SWPS University will present results of numerous studies on in-group identity, conducted across different social contexts.
The lecture, organized by SWPS University's Interdisciplinary Doctoral School is a part of the series The Challenges of the Humanities of the 21st Century.
The lecture will be delivered in English.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this online lecture is available only to doctoral students.
Group identification processes seem to play an increasingly important role in today's political and social landscape. Brexit, independence referendums in Catalonia and Scotland, or the rise of nationalist parties across Europe, suggests that the effectiveness of international organizations is questioned, while the need to emphasize the value of the one’s own nation is growing.
Numerous previous studies focused on identifying intergroup consequences resulting from heightened in-group identity. In contrast, the relationship between different forms of in-group identity and intragroup relations, attitudes, and decisions related to one’s own group seem to have been underestimated so far. Is it possible that the degree of identification with one’s own group is related to one’s attitude towards other in-group members and one’s readiness to undertake action for the in-group members and in pursuit of the group’s goals?
Professor Cisłak-Wójcik will present results of numerous studies conducted across different social contexts (e.g. national, environmental and organizational), showing that defensive forms of group identification are associated with undesirable in-group outcomes, such as support for policies that might eventually undermine health and security of in-group members, undesirable social relations and instrumental treatment of group members. She will discuss these findings in the light of the classic and contemporary theories of social identity. The findings indicate that although mobilizing defensive group identification might be a way to prepare a group for confrontation, this usually comes at a cost to the group itself.
Although planned in October last year, Professor Cisłak-Wojcik’s lecture on in-group identity has proved to be very timely in face of the coronavirus pandemic, which has highlighted some international economic and political problems and conflicts.
Professor Izabela Grabowska, Director of Interdisciplinary Doctoral School
“The Challenges of Humanities of the 21st Century” is a series of lectures by distinguished specialists, who represent various disciplines from the field of humanities. The events are aimed at students of SWPS University's Interdisciplinary Doctoral Program, however all interested parties are welcome. The format includes post-lecture informal discussions on topics presented by the invited experts. The friendly atmosphere of the events is conducive to networking, which lends itself to opportunities of future internships at universities or research centers around the world.
Doctoral Education at SWPS University is directed to people interested in an academic career and also to those, who would like to continue their education and personal development in support of their career advancement. The interdisciplinary character of our programs allows students to participate in projects from various disciplines. Our doctoral students collaborate with scholars from the best research centers in Poland and around the world. The master-apprentice approach guarantees that each student receives individual attention and professional support.