http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23690650

J Exp Soc Psychol. 2013 Jan;49(1):42-57.

'This will bring shame on our nation': The role of anticipated group-based emotions on collective action.

Shepherd L, Spears R, Manstead AS.

Source

Department of Psychology, School of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Scotland, UK ; School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Wales, UK.

Abstract

In three studies we examined whether the anticipation of group-based guilt, shame and anger predicts the desire to undertake collective action against a proposed ingroup transgression. In Studies 1 (N = 179) and 2 (N = 186), the relation between appraising a proposed ingroup transgression as illegitimate and collective action was mediated (or partially mediated) by anticipated group-based shame and anger. In Study 3 (N = 128) participants with high self-investment group identification were less willing to engage in collective action against the prospective ingroup transgression when aversive anticipated group-based emotions were made salient. This effect was mediated by anticipated group-based shame. We discuss the implications of these results with regard to collective action and the morality of intergroup behavior.