Managing a Social Identity Threat: Ambivalence Toward the Ingroup as Psychological Disengagement

We examined how members of a low status group react to a social identity threat. We propose that expressing an ambivalent evaluation towards the ingroup may represent a way to manage such a threatening situation. One hundred and thirty-one undergraduates’ identification with Italians was assessed. Participants were divided into groups, according to a situational identity threat (high vs. low). In line with hypotheses, low identifiers expressed more ambivalence towards the ingroup in the high (vs. low) threat condition. The reversed pattern emerged for high identifiers. This effect was mediated by the perception of intragroup variability, a well-known social creativity strategy. Results confirmed our interpretation of ambivalence as a form of social creativity, and are discussed in terms of social identity concerns.