What Are We Fighting For?: The Effects of Framing on Ingroup Identification and Allegiance

• Published in: The Journal of social psychology Vol. 153; no. 1; pp. 25 - 37
• Main Authors: Adarves-Yorno, Inmaculada, Jetten, Jolanda, Postmes, Tom, Haslam, S. Alexander
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia, PA Taylor & Francis Group 01.01.2013; Taylor & Francis; Taylor & Francis Inc
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Afghan Campaign 2001; Afghanistan; Aggression - psychology; allegiance; Biological and medical sciences; Communication; Conflicts; England; Female; framing; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Group Processes; Humans; Identification; Impact analysis; Intergroup Relations; International Conflict; International conflicts; Iraq; Iraq War; Iraq War, 2003-2011; Male; Middle Aged; Perception; Perceptions; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Social Identification; social identity; Social interactions. Communication. Group processes; Social Perception; Social psychology; Students; Students - psychology; U.S.A; United Kingdom; United States; United States of America; War; Warfare; Young Adult; United States > US; Afghanistan; Human; Social conflict; identification; framing; Social group; Social interaction; War; allegiance; Framing effect; Social belonging; Intergroup relation; Social identity
• ISSN: 0022-4545; 1940-1183
• DOI: 10.1080/00224545.2012.701673

Two studies were conducted examining the impact of framing on ingroup identification and allegiance in the context of international conflicts. The first study was carried out among British students at the beginning of the war in Afghanistan (N = 69). Perceptions of the war were manipulated by varying the frame that determined whether the war was perceived as positive and just or negative. Participants provided with a positive frame on the war identified more with their ingroup (Britain), and displayed higher allegiance to the United States than when given a negative frame. These findings were replicated in a second study conducted in the context of the second Iraq war (N = 51). Discussion focuses on the way in which framing affects perceptions of intergroup relations and the relationship between self, ingroup and out-group(s).