1,720,980 research outputs found
Exploring intercultural sensitivity in bicultural and multicultural Reddit users: The role of both identity (or individual) and contextual (or social) factors
No full textThe Internet has revolutionized communication, enabling interactions between individuals from diverse cultures. This is especially true for social media which encourages participation in millions of online communities on a wide range of topics, such as Reddit. Research has largely neglected the intricate relationship between new media and intercultural issues. This study aims to address this gap by exploring the use experience of bicultural and multicultural individuals on Reddit and investigating the impact of identity-level (identity categorization, compartmentalization, and integration) and contextual-level (identification with the online network, online intergroup contact frequency and quality) factors on intercultural sensitivity. A sample of 241 bicultural (n = 90) and multicultural (n = 151) Reddit users (females = 100, 41.49%) participated in the study. Hierarchical regression results showed that both identity-level and contextual-level factors significantly contributed to intercultural sensitivity. Specifically, on the identity-level, integration was positively related to intercultural sensitivity, while compartmentalization was negatively associated with it. Additionally, on the contextual-level, identification with the online network and high-quality online intergroup contact were associated with greater intercultural sensitivity. This research highlights the importance of understanding how intercultural dynamics unfold within social media platforms and provides insights for fostering intercultural sensitivity in online communities
A constructivist point of view on intergroup relations Online intergroup contact, Dialogical Self and prejudice reduction
No full textScholars interested in studying the effects of online intergroup contact on reducing prejudice are increasing. However, there is still a lack of evidence on the implications of the Self. The present study aims to fill this gap, considering the Dialogical Self as theoretical framework. It explored which clusters of I-Positions emerged during online intergroup dialogue, and whether and to what extent these clusters related with contact quality and prejudice. Data was collected from eight undergraduate students (females: 4; Mage= 23.63, SDage= 4.00), from majority (i.e., Italians; n = 4) and minority (i.e., non-Italians; n = 4). A pre- and postdialogue procedure was administered. Results suggested the existence of four clusters with different levels of inclusiveness - i.e., personal, cultural, social and human. Furthermore, results suggested the existence of different trends based on individuals' membership to the majority or the minority group. Specifically, while personal and cultural I-Positions were negatively related with prejudice in majority group, social and human I-Positions were positively related with prejudice in minority one. Despite their explorative nature, these results should be useful to take a step forward in understanding the identity processes activated during intergroup dialogue
«Couples in trouble» because of social networks? A systematic review
No full textEmpirical studies reveal Social Network Sites (SNS) have multiple applications related to intimate relationships. Through SNS, people can meet partners, maintain relationships, and portray commitment. Existing evidence includes both positive and negative outcomes for offline Romantic Relationships (oRRs). Nevertheless, unification and coherent frameworks on the relationship between SNSs' use and quality of oRR and factors influencing these relationships have not been provided. This was the aim of this systematic literature review that analysed a corpus of 65 peer-reviewed articles. Results from the study uncovered positive and negative outcomes of SNS on the quality of oRR in relation to online behaviour that is at least partially guided - i.e., moderated - by individual differences of the people involved, especially by the individual's attachment style
Has COVID-19 Threatened Relational Identity? Risk Representation, Identity Threats, and Perceived Health during Quarantine
No full textBased on the Identity Process Theory, this study wondered whether COVID-19 risk representation threatened relational identity and health perception. A sample of 976 Italian university students (Mage = 24.2; females: 73.8%) and a sample of 204 university staff members (Mage = 50.86; females: 57.4%) completed an online survey during the 1st phase of COVID-19. The results confirmed that in both samples the COVID-19 risk representation has been related to participants’ identity, both activating identity protection strategies and threatening their relational identity, i.e., the identity they derived from family and friendship relationships. Furthermore, identity protection mediated the relation between risk representation and health perception, suggesting that to feel even more part of their family and friend groups can protect participants from feeling unhealthy
Heteronormativity and the Justification of Gender Hierarchy: Investigating the Archival Data From 16 European Countries
No full textWithin the framework of the System Justification Theory, this study tested on the archival data from 16 European countries the general hypothesis that homonegativity (HN), as an expression of gender binarism and heteronormativity, works as a legitimizing myth of gender hierarchy. Specifically, we hypothesized that (1) system justification (SJ) would positively relate to HN and (2) this relation would depend on the country level of gender hierarchy, (3) on the gender of respondents, and (4) on the interaction between gender hierarchy and gender. We selected the Gender Equality Index (GEI) as an indicator of the gender hierarchy of the country system and the items from the European Social Survey-Round 9 (ESS-9) as the indicators of the gender of respondents and the levels of SJ and HN. The Hierarchical Linear Modeling (HLM) partially confirmed the hypotheses, suggesting HN to work as a blatant prejudice and being more viable as a legitimizing myth in females from countries with higher gender hierarchy and in males from more gender-equal countries. In both cases, HN serves as a myth to justify the ontological premise of participants that the world is fair and to counteract the cognitive dissonance generated by the perception of a gender-unequal system (in the case of a woman) or by the perception of a gender-equal system that can threaten gender privileges (in the case of a man)
Can social networks make us more sensitive to social discrimination? E-contact, identity processes and perception of online sexual discrimination in a sample of facebook users
No full textIn recent years psychosocial studies have given a growing attention to online intergroup contact in reducing prejudice. Nevertheless, there is still a lack of evidence on processes that could mediate this relation. The present study aimed to fill this gap. Focused on intergroup relationships between people with different sexual orientations, it examined whether and to what extent identity processes-i.e., sexual identity commitment and exploration-mediated the relationship between online intergroup contact and perception of mediated and vicarious sexual online discrimination on Facebook. Data was collected with a sample of 357 Facebook users (Mage = 26.07, SD = 8.37; females: 64.9%, males: 35.1%) who completed an online questionnaire. A full Structural Equation Modeling was tested. Results showed that: (a) Online contact was positively associated with perceived online sexual discrimination; (b) online contact was positively associated with identity exploration but not commitment; (c) exploration-but not commitment-was positively associated with perceived online sexual discrimination; (d) sexual identity exploration-but not commitment-mediated the relationship between online contact and perception of sexual discrimination, increasing the positive effect of contact on perceived discrimination. Limitations and directions for future research were discussed
Does intercultural contact increase anti-racist behavior on social network sites?
No full textEmpirical attention on online intercultural contact and prejudice reduction are increasing. Nevertheless, still little is known on processes that could influence the contact-prejudice relation as well as the relation between online contact and anti-racist behavior. Based on literature on intergroup contact, the present study aims to fill these gaps, focusing on online intergroup relationships between people from different countries. Specifically, it examines whether and to what extent empathic feelings and online community commitment mediate the relationship between online intergroup contact and both perceived ethnic discrimination and anti-racist behavior on Facebook. We collected data from a predominantly Italian sample of 1018 Facebook users (Mage = 30.03, SDage = 11.09; females: 80.01%); participants filled in an online questionnaire. A semi-full Structural Equation Modeling was used to test hypotheses. The results confirmed that when intergroup contact was established, such contact was able to increase the sense of being committed to the online community, which increased the perception of online discrimination towards ethnic and racial minorities, which in turn was able to increase the anti-racist behavior. The ambivalent role of the empathy in online contexts will be discussed
Exploring the Role of Problematic Social Network Site Use in the Link Between Reflective Functioning and Identity Processes in Adolescents
Full text linkLiterature highlighted that problematic social network site use might have relevant detrimental consequences on users’ well-being, particularly in adolescence. However, it is still not clear which variables could be considered protective or risk factors for such problematic use. The present study aimed to fill this gap, examining the relationship between reflective functioning and adolescents’ identity development, while taking problematic SNS use into account. A sample of 354 students (age range = 13–19; Mage = 16.18, SD = 1.58; 19.9% males) from two Italians high schools participated in the study. Results from structural equation modeling showed that adolescents with high levels of reflective functioning reported lower levels of problematic SNS use. Furthermore, problematic SNS use mediated the relationship between reflective functioning and identity development, by disfavouring identity in-depth exploration and favouring reconsideration of commitment. We discussed clinical and research implications
Does Facebook ‘threaten’ romantic relationships? Online surveillance and couple visibility behaviours in romantic jealousy and couple relationship quality in a sample of Italian women
No full textFacebook has been identified as one of the most influential social network site (SNS) in the formation, maintenance and interruption of romantic relationships. Over the last decade, several studies have been carried out on Facebook and romantic relationships; however, there is still lack of evidence on how the reciprocal perceptions of partners’ behaviours on Facebook relate with couple relationship quality. This study aimed to fill this gap examing whether and to what extent participants’ surveillance and visibility behaviour related with the perception of their partner’s surveillance and visibility behaviour, and to what extent this perception related with both romantic jealousy and relationship quality. A sample of 635 heterosexual women having a romantic relationship participated in a study, which consisted of answering an online questionnaire with items on both the participants’ and their partner’s online behaviour. Path analyses were used for testing the hypotheses. Results showed that Facebook supported behaviours that can affect the quality of romantic relationship. Contrary to what expected, both online surveillance and couple visibility positively related with romantic jealousy, which in turn mediated the relation between surveillance and relationship quality, thereby worsening the participants’ perception of couple relationship quality
Intergroup dialogues in the landscape of digital societies: How does the dialogical self affect intercultural relations in online contexts?
No full textThe effects of intergroup dialogues on intercultural relations in digital societies and the growing conflict, inflammatory and hate speech phenomena characterizing these environments are receiving increasing attention in socio-psychological studies. Based on Allport’s contact theory, scholars have shown that online intercultural contact reduces ethnic prejudice and discrimination, although it is not yet clear when and how this occurs. By analyzing the role of the Dialogical Self in online intercultural dialogues, we aim to understand how individuals position themselves and others at three levels of inclusiveness—personal, social, and human—and how this process is associated with attitudes towards the interlocutor, intergroup bias and prejudice, whilst also considering the inclusion of the Other in the Self and ethnic/racial identity. An experimental procedure was administered via the Qualtrics platform, and data were collected among 118 undergraduate Italian students through an anonymous questionnaire. From ANOVA and moderation analysis, it emerged that the social level of inclusiveness was positively associated with ethnic/racial identity and intergroup bias. Furthermore, the human level of inclusiveness was associated with the inclusion of the Other in the Self and ethnic/racial identity, and unexpectedly, also with intergroup bias. We conclude that when people interact online as “human beings”, the positive effect of online dialogue fails, hindering the differentiation processes necessary to define one’s own and the interlocutor’s identities. We discuss the effects of intercultural dialogue in the landscape of digital societies and the relevance of our findings for theory, research and practice
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