Disadvantaged group members’ evaluations and support for allies: Investigating the role of communication style and group membership

Radke, Helena R.M.; Kutlaca, Maja; Becker, Julia C.

doi:10.1177/13684302211010932

Disadvantaged group members’ evaluations and support for allies: Investigating the role of communication style and group membership

Radke, Helena R.M.; Kutlaca, Maja; Becker, Julia C.

Authors

Helena R.M. Radke

Dr Maja Kutlaca maja.kutlaca@durham.ac.uk
Assistant Professor

Julia C. Becker

Abstract

Limited research has examined disadvantaged group members’ evaluations and support for allies who engage in collective action on their behalf. Across two studies (Study 1 N = 264 women; Study 2 N = 347 Black Americans) we manipulated an ally’s communication style and group membership to investigate whether these factors play a role in how allies are perceived and received. We found that participants evaluated allies less positively and were less willing to support them when they communicated their support in a dominant compared to a neutral way. Heightened perceptions that the ally was trying to take over the movement and make themselves the center of attention explained these results. However, we found no effect of whether the ally belonged to another disadvantaged group or not. Our findings contribute to the growing literature which seeks to understand the complexities associated with involving allies in collective action.

Citation

Radke, H. R., Kutlaca, M., & Becker, J. C. (2022). Disadvantaged group members’ evaluations and support for allies: Investigating the role of communication style and group membership. Group Processes & Intergroup Relations, 25(6), 1437-1456. https://doi.org/10.1177/13684302211010932

Journal Article Type	Article
Acceptance Date	Mar 28, 2021
Online Publication Date	Jul 16, 2021
Publication Date	2022-09
Deposit Date	Oct 12, 2021
Publicly Available Date	Jan 17, 2023
Journal	Group Processes and Intergroup Relations
Print ISSN	1368-4302
Electronic ISSN	1461-7188
Publisher	SAGE Publications
Peer Reviewed	Peer Reviewed
Volume	25
Issue	6
Pages	1437-1456
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1177/13684302211010932

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