Global Social Identity and Global Cooperation

• Published in: Psychological science Vol. 22; no. 6; pp. 821 - 828
• Main Authors: Buchan, Nancy R., Brewer, Marilynn B., Grimalda, Gianluca, Wilson, Rick K., Fatas, Enrique, Foddy, Margaret
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.06.2011; Sage Publications; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Altruism; Argentina; Attitude; Behavior; Biological and medical sciences; Choice Behavior; Communities; Cooperation; Economic research; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Global perspective; Globalization; Group identity; Humans; International Cooperation; Iran; Italy; Male; Middle Aged; Motivation; Psychology; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Public goods; Research facilities; Return on investment; Russia; Social behaviour; Social Identification; Social identity; Social interactions. Communication. Group processes; Social psychology; Social theory; Socioeconomic Factors; Surveys and Questionnaires; United States; Young Adult; Italy; Argentina; Iran; United States; Russia; South Africa; United States > US; goal transformation; social identity; globalization; social dilemma; cooperation; Human; Goal; Social group; Social interaction; Cooperation; Globalization; Social belonging; Social dilemma; Social identity
• ISSN: 0956-7976; 1467-9280
• DOI: 10.1177/0956797611409590

This research examined the question of whether the psychology of social identity can motivate cooperation in the context of a global collective. Our data came from a multinational study of choice behavior in a multilevel public-goods dilemma conducted among samples drawn from the general populations of the United States, Italy, Russia, Argentina, South Africa, and Iran. Results demonstrate that an inclusive social identification with the world community is a meaningful psychological construct that plays a role in motivating cooperation that transcends parochial interests. Self-reported identification with the world as a whole predicts behavioral contributions to a global public good beyond what is predicted from expectations about what other people are likely to contribute. Furthermore, global social identification is conceptually distinct from general attitudes about global issues, and has unique effects on cooperative behavior.