Cristina Mosso

Resistant versus Acquiescent Responses to Ingroup Inferiority as a Function of Social Dominance Orientation in the USA and Italy

Social identity theory typically emphasizes how low status group members resist and challenge imputations of inferiority (Tajfel & Turner, 1979), whereas system justification theory emphasizes the tendency to accept and justify status hierarchies (Jost & Banaji, 1994). On the theoretical assumption that responses to ingroup inferiority would vary according to individual differences in social dominance orientation (SDO; Pratto, Sidanius, Stallworth, & Malle, 1994), we predicted and found in two studies that low SDO members of low status groups engage in resistance and social competition, as social identity theory would predict, whereas high SDO members follow system justifying patterns of acquiescence and even active bolstering of the status quo. The fact that the studies were conducted in two cultures (USA and Italy) that differ with regard to hierarchical traditions and beliefs about social mobility increases the generalizeability of the results and strengthens the conclusion that SDO predicts acquiescent vs. resistant responses to ingroup inferiority.

A comparison between uni- and multidimensional frailty measures: prevalence, functional status, and relationships with disability

Background Over the years, a plethora of frailty assessment tools has been developed. These instruments can be basically grouped into two types of conceptualizations – unidimensional, based on the physical–biological dimension – and multidimensional, based on the connections among the physical, psychological, and social domains. At present, studies on the comparison between uni- and multidimensional frailty measures are limited. Objective The aims of this paper were: 1) to compare the prevalence of frailty obtained using a uni- and a multidimensional measure; 2) to analyze differences in the functional status among individuals captured as frail or robust by the two measures; and 3) to investigate relations between the two frailty measures and disability. Methods Two hundred and sixty-seven community-dwelling older adults (73.4±6 years old, 59.9% of women) participated in this cross-sectional study. The Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS) index and the Tilburg Frailty Indicator (TFI) were used to measure frailty in a uni- and multidimensional way, respectively. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire, the Center of Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale, and the Loneliness Scale were administered to evaluate the functional status. Disability was assessed using the Groningen Activity Restriction Scale. Data were treated with descriptive statistics, one-way analysis of variance, correlations, and receiver operating characteristic analyses through the evaluation of the areas under the curve. Results Results showed that frailty prevalence rate is strictly dependent on the index used (CHS =12.7%; TFI =44.6%). Furthermore, frail individuals presented differences in terms of functional status in all the domains. Frailty measures were significantly correlated with each other (r=0.483), and with disability (CHS: r=0.423; TFI: r=0.475). Finally, the area under the curve of the TFI (0.833) for disability was higher with respect to the one of CHS (0.770). Conclusion Data reported here confirm that different instruments capture different frail individuals. Clinicians and researchers have to consider the different abilities of the two measures to detect frail individuals.

Minority Influence is Facilitated when the Communication Employs Linguistic Abstractness

An experiment tested the hypothesis that minority influence is enhanced when the source of a persuasive communication employs abstract, as opposed to concrete, language. This hypothesis and the research testing it links ideas from two heretofore separate areas of inquiry: minority influence and linguistic abstraction. It is well known that minority influence increases when the minority is perceived to be consistent. Work on linguistic abstraction has established that when abstract language is used to describe an act, it implies that the act reflects stable, trans-situational characteristics of the actor, whereas concrete language implies that the act reflects isolated, situationally bounded events. We suggest that abstract language therefore conveys greater conviction and thereby increases perceived consistency and, in turn, minority influence. Source (majority, minority) and language abstractness (abstract, concrete) of a persuasive communication were manipulated. Results revealed that a minority (but not a majority) source was seen as more consistent when using abstract (vs. concrete) language. Although there were no differences among conditions on direct influence, a statistically significant interaction was observed for indirect influence: the abstract-minority source had significantly more indirect influence than did the concrete-minority source, whereas the indirect influence of the majority communicator was not affected by language abstractness.

The Adapted Italian Version of the Baller Identity Measurement Scale to Evaluate the Student-Athletes’ Identity in Relation to Gender, Age, Type of Sport, and Competition Level

The purpose of this paper is twofold: to validate the properties of the Italian version of the Baller Identity Measurement Scale (i.e., BIMS-IT), a self-report questionnaire based on the athletic and academic identities; and to investigate differences in psychosocial factors such as gender, age, type of sport, and competition level. The dimensionality of the BIMS-IT was explored by means of the exploratory factor analysis, considering the scale’s internal consistency too (Confirmatory Factor Analysis). Results related to exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis supported a model of measurement composed of two correlated factors: the athletic and academic identities and affectivity related to identities. For both factors, differences emerged between age, and competition level sub groups. In particular, higher identity scores emerged for ≤ 24 years old student-athletes with respect to their age counterparts. National sub-elite student-athletes reported lower identity values than those of national elite and international levels. Results suggest that the Italian version of the BIMS-IT is psychometrically robust and could be adopted for empirical uses. The higher identity scores reported by younger and higher competition level participants suggest a correspondent higher involvement into the student-athlete role. However, BIMS-IT represents a distinct model with respect to the original American BIMS, determining the need of further research on the student-athletes’ identity to better clarify any socio-cultural contest effects.

On the Role of Group Size in Social Dilemmas

Reconciling individual choices with public interest is central to human society: from market competition to environment protection, there are many situations that can be modelled by means of social dilemmas. This paper reviews the psychological literature contributions investigating the specific impact of group size on cooperation in social dilemmas. Moreover, we present an overview of the main – sometimes conflicting – explanations proposed in the literature. After discussing the possible limitations of this review we discuss the implications and directions for future research. Conciliare le scelte individuali con l’interesse pubblico è uno snodo centrale all’interno della società: dalla competizione nel mercato alla salvaguardia dell’ambiente, vi sono molte situazioni che possono essere modellizzate come dilemmi sociali. Questo articolo propone un’analisi della letteratura psicologica che ha studiato l’impatto specifico della numerosità del gruppo nei dilemmi sociali. Inoltre, presenteremo una panoramica delle principali, spesso contrastanti, spiegazioni proposte in letteratura. Dopo aver discusso i possibili limiti della rassegna ne verranno presentate le implicazioni e direzioni per la ricerca futura.

We are diverse but belonging to the same team: an empirical study on the relationship between diversity and identification

The present study aims to highlights the role of work group culture and gender diversity on work group functioning. Gender diversity is an aspect of organizational life and research on the effect of workgroup composition has yielded ambiguous results. The categorization elaboration model (van Knippenberg, De Dreu & Homan, 2004) addresses this issue and suggests examining factors influencing the relationship between work group diversity and work group functioning. The present study proposes that the group gender diversity affects group identification and that this effect is contingent on group norms. 18 work groups in an information technology enterprise were involved. Results confirmed the hypothesis. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Measurement properties of the system justification scale : a Rasch analysis

In the present study, we analyzed the measurement properties of the general version of the System Justification Scale in Italy using the Partial Credit Model with a sample of 544 youths (182 males, Mage = 17.47, SD = 1.59). The scale was unidimensional and showed acceptable measurement properties. However, its format should be reduced from seven to four categories. Moreover, the scale was able to discriminate people with intermediate system justification scores, while it did not discriminate those with extreme scores. Directions for future research are discussed in light of the present findings.

Benevolent sexism toward men: Its social legitimation and preference for male candidates

The present research investigated the relationship between system justification beliefs and the endorsement of ambivalent sexist attitudes toward men. In Study 1 (web-based questionnaire, N = 220) we explored the relationship between system justification (SJ), and hostile and benevolent attitudes toward men (HM and BM). Results showed that SJ was positively related to BM but not to HM. In Study 2 (paper-and-pencil questionnaire, N = 158), we tested the mediating role played by BM and HM in the relationship between SJ and the preference for male candidates. We replicated Study 1 results and showed that BM, but not HM, was positively related to the dependent variable; moreover SJ exerted an indirect and positive effect on the preference for male candidates as mediated by BM. Finally, supplementary analyses showed that the relationship between SJ and BM was positive and significant for women only. Results are discussed in light of system justification theory and of BM as an additional form of legitimization and maintenance of the status quo.

Creative Focus Group as an Instrument to Evaluate Work Related Stress

From the literature and the outlines guides, it is possible to find different methodologies to collect data from the practice of occupational stress evaluation. Among these, it emerges the Focus Group that Zammuner [24] describes as a “method of qualitative data collection, based on a group talk from which emerge data that the researcher is interested on deeply investigating it”. There are several variants of the methodology, that can be used depending on the research purposes. In the case history presented here, there is the need to deal in depth with the aspects concerning the organizational climate and culture. To highlight all the contents, facilitate the sharing of the different points of view, and to ensure the involvement of all participants, it has been chosen a creative alternative inspired by Greenbaum’s “expressive drawing” [11]: it is a “projective technique that can be very helpful in eliciting information that might otherwise not be generated in traditional focus group discussions, and that can also energize the group when it’s necessary”. In practice, it envisages the realization of an artistic artifact in which the workers represent their own perspective, emotional opinion and emotional reaction on topics in question. Compared to a normal “focus group”, this variant allows further structuring of the discussion, encouraging participation and comparisons, facilitating the creation of common meanings. Specifically, the operational layout applied is the following: first of all it has been set a short tutorial session related to the constructs of organizational climate and culture; then, it started a warm up phase followed by a creative moment in which the workers have produced some artifacts through which they have described their perception of organizational climate and culture; finally, it has been set a debate in plenary where the participants have talked about their job and its meaning, with the support of a moderator. The data has been collected as notes and processed according to the following categories, obtained from the literature on the organizational climate and culture (James and Jones 1974–1979; Rousseau 1990; Schein [20]): identity-values-ideologies, communication, leadership, rules and incentive, responsibility and freedom, individualism and sense of team, criteria of success. The results obtained have shown that the focus group, in the proposed variant, represents a valid instrument for this activity: the use of the artistic artifact as a way of transmission and sharing the meaning allows a rich and articulated data collection, ensuring a broad and deep vision of organizational reality.

Relationships Between Individual Endorsement of Aggressive Behaviors and Thoughts With Prejudice Relevant Correlates Among Adolescents

The current study explored how individual differences in endorsement of aggressive behaviors and thoughts relate to individual levels of tolerance and prejudice toward immigrants and established prejudice correlates such as social dominance orientation (SDO) and ethnic out-groups ratings among adolescents. Participants (N = 141; Age M = 16.08, 68% girls) completed the Readiness for Interpersonal Aggression Inventory, the Tolerance and Prejudice Questionnaire, and measures of SDO and ethnic out-groups ratings. Results indicated that higher individual endorsement of aggression was related to higher prejudice and SDO and lower tolerance and ethnic out-groups ratings. Patterns of endorsement of aggression related to habitual and socially determined aggressive acts or stable needs to hurt others as a source of satisfaction were significantly correlated with prejudice. Conversely, the relationship between prejudice and endorsement of impulsive actions lacking of emotional control resulted was less marked. The results highlight how in the cognitive spectrum of prejudice, individual levels of endorsement of aggression may play a significant triggering role during adolescence. These findings may have implications for future studies and interventions aimed at reducing prejudice already in young ages.