Continuing and changing group identities: the effects of merging on social identification and ingroup bias.
A social identity approach to the investigation of group-based reactions to a merger is outlined, in which a merger is analyzed in terms of the continuation or change of the pre-merger group identity. In two experiments, the relationship between pre-merger identification, post-merger identification, and ingroup bias was investigated using a minimal group paradigm. Results from both studies showed that the perceived continuation of the pre-merger group identity in the post-merger group strengthened the positive relationship between pre-merger identification and identification with the superordinate post-merger group. Moreover, perceived continuation strengthened, rather than reduced, ingroup bias at the subordinate level of the merged groups. Some theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
van Leeuwen
Esther
E
Department of Psychology, Free University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands. EAC.van.Leeuwen@psy.vu.nl
van Knippenberg
Daan
D
Ellemers
Naomi
N
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006126:Group Processes; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands; D011590:Psychology, Industrial; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012933:Social Identification