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 identityPersistent 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
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Dasch_et_al_2023_The_radical_flank_curse_or_blessing_GEP_AAM.pdfAdobe PDF - 4.14MBMD5: e90228b32f1f2696dae675e77238f041Description: Accepted Manuscript
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There are no other versions of this object.
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Author(s) / Creator(s)Dasch, Sophia
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Author(s) / Creator(s)Bellm, Millicent
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Author(s) / Creator(s)Shuman, Eric
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Author(s) / Creator(s)van Zomeren, Martijn
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PsychArchives acquisition timestamp2023-09-14T16:36:31Z
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Made available on2023-09-14T16:36:31Z
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Date of first publication2023-09-14
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Abstract / DescriptionSocial 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
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Publication statusacceptedVersionen_US
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Review statusrevieweden_US
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CitationDasch, 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.13239en_US
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ISSN2750-6630
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Persistent Identifierhttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12034/8729
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Persistent Identifierhttps://doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.13239
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Language of contentengen_US
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PublisherPsychArchivesen_US
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Is version ofhttps://doi.org/10.5964/gep.11121
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Keyword(s)radical flank effecten_US
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Keyword(s)collective actionen_US
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Keyword(s)social changeen_US
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Keyword(s)social movementsen_US
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Keyword(s)identityen_US
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Dewey Decimal Classification number(s)150
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TitleThe Radical Flank: Curse or Blessing of a Social Movement?en_US
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DRO typearticleen_US
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Journal titleGlobal Environmental Psychologyen_US
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Visible tag(s)PsychOpen GOLDen_US
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Visible tag(s)Accepted Manuscripten_US