Abstract
Identity is among of the most common explanations for political outcomes. Despite this, studies of politics often fail to clearly conceptualize or define identity, leading to tremendous variation in the use and application of the concept, much of which is at odds with fundamental tenets of research on the topic. Decades of research in psychology, sociology, and political psychology inform a family of related theories referred to as “Social Identity Theory” (SIT) which demonstrates that identity requires three conditions in order to affect attitudes and behavior: cognitive classification, psychological attachment to the group, and a social context that causes a group identity to become salient. In this paper, we build on these conditions to develop a typology to help identify when and for whom identity should be politically consequential. Using national election data from 2012, 2016 and 2020 we show that failing to differentiate between these concepts, particularly what we call Descriptive and Substantive identity, can lead to mistaken inferences about the behavior of identity groups in politics. Applying insights from SIT also promises to help advance an improved understanding of questions of race, representation, and intersectionality.
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© 2023 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Introduction
- The Forum: Fall 2023 Issue Introduction
- Articles
- When are Identities Politically Consequential? Identifying Conditions of Descriptive, Substantive, and Allied Group Identity
- Religious Group Affect and Support for First Amendment Liberties
- Exceptional Times for an Exceptional People: How the Prosperity Gospel, Christian Nationalism, and Race Affect Americans’ Economic Attitudes and Behavior
- Who Cares About Caregiving?: Identity and Caregiving Policy Perspectives
- Legacies of Militarism: Ascriptive Republicanism and the Origins of America’s Contemporary Gun Culture
- Dreamers, Queer Kids, and American Culture Wars: Centering Young People in Identity Politics
- Politics and Popular Culture: Stretching Imaginaries and Filling in Holes
- Book Reviews
- Kaitlin N. Sidorsky and Wendy J. Schiller: Inequality Across State Lines: How Policymakers Have Failed Domestic Violence Victims in the United States
- Manuel P. Teodoro, Samantha Zuhlke and David Switzer: The Profits of Distrust: Citizen-Consumers, Drinking Water, and the Crisis of Confidence in American Government
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Introduction
- The Forum: Fall 2023 Issue Introduction
- Articles
- When are Identities Politically Consequential? Identifying Conditions of Descriptive, Substantive, and Allied Group Identity
- Religious Group Affect and Support for First Amendment Liberties
- Exceptional Times for an Exceptional People: How the Prosperity Gospel, Christian Nationalism, and Race Affect Americans’ Economic Attitudes and Behavior
- Who Cares About Caregiving?: Identity and Caregiving Policy Perspectives
- Legacies of Militarism: Ascriptive Republicanism and the Origins of America’s Contemporary Gun Culture
- Dreamers, Queer Kids, and American Culture Wars: Centering Young People in Identity Politics
- Politics and Popular Culture: Stretching Imaginaries and Filling in Holes
- Book Reviews
- Kaitlin N. Sidorsky and Wendy J. Schiller: Inequality Across State Lines: How Policymakers Have Failed Domestic Violence Victims in the United States
- Manuel P. Teodoro, Samantha Zuhlke and David Switzer: The Profits of Distrust: Citizen-Consumers, Drinking Water, and the Crisis of Confidence in American Government