Article Accepted Manuscript

The Radical Flank: Curse or Blessing of a Social Movement?

Author(s) / Creator(s)

Dasch, Sophia
Bellm, Millicent
Shuman, Eric
van Zomeren, Martijn

Abstract / Description

Social movements often comprise a variety of actors employing differing levels of radicality. This study examines how collective action enables social change by studying the influence of the presence of a radical flank on public support for moderate and radical activists. We report two experimental studies investigating the reactions towards the protests of a movement in the United Kingdom opposing a university’s reduction in sustainable catering options (N = 485) and an anti-fracking movement in the US (N = 455). In both experiments, participants read a fake newspaper article about a (1) completely nonviolent, (2) completely violent or (3) mixed violent/nonviolent movement including a radical flank. The tested models reveal that identification with the activists drives effects on public support (i.e. intentions to participate and donate). Specifically, the presence of a radical flank caused an increase in public support for the moderates (Study 1) or a decrease in support for the radicals (Study 2). Study 2 additionally found that the magnitude of the effects is moderated by the participants’ sympathy for the movement’s cause. Observers who were sympathetic towards the advocated changes reacted more strongly towards the chosen tactics. Implications for theory, practice and future research are discussed.

Keyword(s)

radical flank effect collective action social change social movements identity

Persistent Identifier

Date of first publication

2023-09-14

Journal title

Global Environmental Psychology

Publisher

PsychArchives

Publication status

acceptedVersion

Review status

reviewed

Is version of

Citation

Dasch, S., Bellm, M., Shuman, E., & van Zomeren, M. (in press). The radical flank: Curse or blessing of a social movement? [Accepted manuscript]. Global Environmental Psychology. https://doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.13239
  • Author(s) / Creator(s)
    Dasch, Sophia
  • Author(s) / Creator(s)
    Bellm, Millicent
  • Author(s) / Creator(s)
    Shuman, Eric
  • Author(s) / Creator(s)
    van Zomeren, Martijn
  • PsychArchives acquisition timestamp
    2023-09-14T16:36:31Z
  • Made available on
    2023-09-14T16:36:31Z
  • Date of first publication
    2023-09-14
  • Abstract / Description
    Social movements often comprise a variety of actors employing differing levels of radicality. This study examines how collective action enables social change by studying the influence of the presence of a radical flank on public support for moderate and radical activists. We report two experimental studies investigating the reactions towards the protests of a movement in the United Kingdom opposing a university’s reduction in sustainable catering options (N = 485) and an anti-fracking movement in the US (N = 455). In both experiments, participants read a fake newspaper article about a (1) completely nonviolent, (2) completely violent or (3) mixed violent/nonviolent movement including a radical flank. The tested models reveal that identification with the activists drives effects on public support (i.e. intentions to participate and donate). Specifically, the presence of a radical flank caused an increase in public support for the moderates (Study 1) or a decrease in support for the radicals (Study 2). Study 2 additionally found that the magnitude of the effects is moderated by the participants’ sympathy for the movement’s cause. Observers who were sympathetic towards the advocated changes reacted more strongly towards the chosen tactics. Implications for theory, practice and future research are discussed.
    en_US
  • Publication status
    acceptedVersion
    en_US
  • Review status
    reviewed
    en_US
  • Citation
    Dasch, S., Bellm, M., Shuman, E., & van Zomeren, M. (in press). The radical flank: Curse or blessing of a social movement? [Accepted manuscript]. Global Environmental Psychology. https://doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.13239
    en_US
  • ISSN
    2750-6630
  • Persistent Identifier
    https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12034/8729
  • Persistent Identifier
    https://doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.13239
  • Language of content
    eng
    en_US
  • Publisher
    PsychArchives
    en_US
  • Is version of
    https://doi.org/10.5964/gep.11121
  • Keyword(s)
    radical flank effect
    en_US
  • Keyword(s)
    collective action
    en_US
  • Keyword(s)
    social change
    en_US
  • Keyword(s)
    social movements
    en_US
  • Keyword(s)
    identity
    en_US
  • Dewey Decimal Classification number(s)
    150
  • Title
    The Radical Flank: Curse or Blessing of a Social Movement?
    en_US
  • DRO type
    article
    en_US
  • Journal title
    Global Environmental Psychology
    en_US
  • Visible tag(s)
    PsychOpen GOLD
    en_US
  • Visible tag(s)
    Accepted Manuscript
    en_US